Metagenomic rDNA Profiles of the Oral Microbiome in Healthy Subjects Are Distinctive Compared to That in Smokers and Disease Subjects Despite High Variations between Subjects

Shreyasee Chakraborty,Nwadiuto Esiobu

doi:10.4236/aim.2017.72013

Abstract

The vital role of oral microbiome in the well-being of humans is only beginning to be unraveled. Employing a rigorous analysis of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) and DNA fingerprints from denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of the 16S rDNA gene in metagenomic samples, this study evaluated the stability of the oral microbiome and contrasted the PCR-DGGE profiles of subjects belonging to three groups—healthy, smokers and oral diseases; in search of distinctive patterns predictive of each group. The DNA band size, intensity and profile generated by three restriction enzymes from a 1500 bp amplicon showed a fairly stable microbial community structure (P H' = 0.99 ± 0.12; S = 2.87 ± 0.75) and oral disease mouths (H' = 1.06 ± 0.085; S = 2.86 ± 0.31), than in healthy subjects (H' = 0.926 ± 0.07; S = 1.79 ± 0.56) suggesting that smoking is associated with a microbial community shift towards the structure found in poor oral health. It is clear that the human oral bacteria symbionts are not all random colonizers. Rather some of them constitute a fragile stable dynamic community whose disturbance could lead to disease or be indicative of disease. Understanding the dynamics of the bacterial community structure in health and disease states is a prerequisite to developing effective preventive healthcare and rapid diagnosis of diseases.

Highlights

Over the past decade, significant progress has been achieved in cataloguing and identifying the prokaryotic symbionts of humans
Employing a rigorous analysis of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)) and DNA fingerprints from denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)) of the 16S rDNA gene in metagenomic samples, this study evaluated the stability of the oral microbiome and contrasted the PCR-DGGE profiles of subjects belonging to three groups —healthy, smokers and oral diseases; in search of distinctive patterns predictive of each group
Dental caries, periodontitis [3] [4], cardiovascular disease [5], diabetes [6] and other cancers [7] [8] [9] have been linked to bacteria in the mouth. While it remains unclear in some cases whether the bacteria profiles are directly responsible for the etiologies or whether they are a product of the disease pathologies; research has shown that personal habits like tobacco smoking, drinking alcohol, and diet change could contribute to poor oral health

Summary

Introduction

Significant progress has been achieved in cataloguing and identifying the prokaryotic symbionts of humans. Dental caries, periodontitis [3] [4], cardiovascular disease [5], diabetes [6] and other cancers (pancreatic and gastrointestinal) [7] [8] [9] have been linked to bacteria in the mouth While it remains unclear in some cases whether the bacteria profiles are directly responsible for the etiologies or whether they are a product of the disease pathologies; research has shown that personal habits like tobacco smoking, drinking alcohol, and diet change could contribute to poor oral health. Microbiome fingerprints in healthy persons are being examined for potential use in identity based on individuals’ unique

Methods

Results

Conclusion