Editorial: The oral-gut axis: from ectopic colonization to within-host evolution of oral bacteria

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, vol. 14, pp. 1378237

Abstract

Editorial on the Research TopicThe oral-gut axis: from ectopic colonization to within-host evolution of oral bacteriaThe human body encompasses intricate microbial communities, exhibiting non-uniform distribution across distinct body regions, each characterized by unique taxa composition and abundance.These microbial habitats are characterized by interconnectivity rather than isolation, manifesting as a complex and intertwined landscape within each individual.A noteworthy example is the gastrointestinal tract, spanning from the oral cavity to the anus, housing diverse bacterial communities.Prior investigations have extensively characterized the composition and dynamics of human bacterial communities in the oral cavity and intestine, elucidating their indispensable roles in maintaining health and contributing to disease states.Specifically, the presence of particular oral species belonging to genera such as Streptococcus, Campylobacter, and Fusobacterium, within the gut microbiota has demonstrated a significant association with pathological conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Despite these advancements, the fundamental role of oral bacteria in the colonization of the human gut remains incompletely understood.Abdelbary et al. addressed this gap by studying the salivary and fecal microbiome in 14 IBD patients compared to 12 healthy controls and identified common bacterial taxa among both oral-gut niches.The study revealed a significant shift in the overall microbial composition of saliva in IBD patients compared to controls.At the genus level, Veillonella and Prevotella were notably more abundant in IBD patients than in the control group.Remarkably, Prevotella salivae emerged as a distinct oral species significantly associated with IBD.In the fecal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology frontiersin.org01

Authors 3

1. Mohamed M. H. Abdelbary corresponding Aachen Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology Department of Operative Dentistry

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Robert Koch Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany

   Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

2. Rehab Z. Abdallah

   American University in Cairo · Misr University for Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Bioinformatics Department, College of Biotechnology, Mirs University for Science and Technology, Cairo, Egypt

   Biology Department, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt

3. Hee Sam Na

   Pusan National University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea