Scientists Identify Several New Bacteria That Cause Dental Caries
Using a technique called next-generation DNA sequencing, researchers in Japan have identified a new bacteria thought to be a potential cause of dental caries.
Using a technique called next-generation DNA sequencing, researchers in Japan have identified a new bacteria thought to be a potential cause of dental caries. The finding is a departure from previous studies that indicate mutans streptococci are the most commonly implicated microbes in caries.
DNA sequencing allows for the accurate identification of the members of this microbial community, thereby offering insights into biofilm composition, according to the study. Japanese students received oral exams and answered a survey about their oral health at the beginning of the study and during a three-year follow-up. Students were divided into groups based on whether the student experienced increased dental caries, and those who did not. Saliva samples were collected from randomly selected students from both groups, and next-generation DNA sequencing was utilized to obtain microbial profiles.
Researchers report both groups had similar oral microbial diversities, but Group A experienced more of the bacterial families Prevotellaceae and Veillonellaceae, and genera Alloprevotella and Dialister were greater than those in Group B. Both groups had low levels of mutans streptococci.
Read the study, “Caries Increment and Salivary Microbiome during University Life: A Prospective Cohort Study,” online at the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
