Zhang Hui, Zheng Xiao, Huang Yongmao, Zou Yuanqiang, Zhang Tao, Repo Maria Alice, Yin Meixiang, You Yang, Jie Zhuye, Xu Wen-An
Shenzhen Clinical College of Stomatology, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Shenzhen Stomatology Hospital (Pingshan), Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 Jun 17;15:1522970. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1522970. eCollection 2025.
Dental caries is a prevalent global health issue, particularly among children, with significant oral and overall health implications. The oral microbiome is considered a critical factor in caries development, with various microbial species implicated in the disease process.
This study aims to explore the changes and interactions of oral microbiota in childhood caries using metagenomic analysis, and identify potential biomarkers for early caries detection and treatment.
Saliva samples were collected from 241 children aged 6 to 9 years, categorized into caries-free (CF), low-caries (CL), and caries-severe (CS) groups. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to analyze the oral microbiome, followed by a series of statistical and functional analyses to characterize microbial diversity and function.
The study revealed significant differences in the microbial community composition among the groups, with the CS group exhibiting higher alpha and beta diversity than that of the CF group. Numerous unclassified microorganisms, such as and , are intimately linked to dental caries and display intricate interaction networks, suggesting the potential formation of a distinct ecological network. In functional assessment, we identified a possible link between pectin and caries, suggesting that microorganisms that produce pectinase enzymes might play a role in the advancement of severe dental caries. Additionally, we identified 16 species as the best marker for severe dental caries, achieving an impressive AUC of 0.91.
The role of microbiota in dental caries is multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of microbial species and functions. Our findings enhance the understanding of the microbial basis of dental caries and offer potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The predictive capacity of the identified biomarkers warrants further investigation for early caries detection and intervention.
The identification of novel biomarkers through metagenomic analysis enables early detection and targeted intervention for childhood caries, potentially transforming children dental care and significantly improving long-term oral health outcomes.
龋齿是一个普遍存在的全球健康问题，尤其是在儿童中，对口腔健康和整体健康都有重大影响。口腔微生物群被认为是龋齿发展的关键因素，多种微生物物种参与了疾病过程。
本研究旨在利用宏基因组分析探讨儿童龋齿中口腔微生物群的变化和相互作用，并确定早期龋齿检测和治疗的潜在生物标志物。
收集了241名6至9岁儿童的唾液样本，分为无龋（CF）、低龋（CL）和重度龋（CS）组。进行宏基因组测序以分析口腔微生物群，随后进行一系列统计和功能分析以表征微生物多样性和功能。
研究揭示了各组之间微生物群落组成的显著差异，CS组的α和β多样性高于CF组。许多未分类的微生物，如 和 ，与龋齿密切相关，并显示出复杂的相互作用网络，表明可能形成独特的生态网络。在功能评估中，我们发现果胶与龋齿之间可能存在联系，这表明产生果胶酶的微生物可能在重度龋齿的进展中起作用。此外，我们确定了16个物种作为重度龋齿的最佳标志物，AUC高达0.91。
微生物群在龋齿中的作用是多方面的，涉及微生物物种和功能的复杂相互作用。我们的研究结果加深了对龋齿微生物基础的理解，并提供了潜在的诊断和治疗靶点。所确定生物标志物的预测能力值得进一步研究以用于早期龋齿检测和干预。
通过宏基因组分析鉴定新型生物标志物能够对儿童龋齿进行早期检测和靶向干预，有可能改变儿童牙科护理并显著改善长期口腔健康结果。
