The human oral cavity harbors a complex ecosystem of numerous microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and bacteriophages, referred to as the oral microbiota. In a healthy state, the oral microbiota is composed of commensals. The mutual commensal oral microbiota plays a crucial role in promoting not only oral but also systemic health. However, in a diseased state, host-microbial networks lead to dysbiosis. The influence of oral microbiota dysbiosis can extend beyond the oral cavity, and systemic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and coronary artery disease are associated with the oral microbiota. A mechanistic understanding for such associations may arise from the ability of many oral microorganisms to alter the inflammatory microenvironment and to interfere with host signaling pathways that control cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, there is likely to be an alteration in oral microbial composition or bacterial pathogenicity in systemic pathologic conditions. Therefore, there may be a bidirectional relationship between oral microbiota and systemic diseases. To some extent, the abundance of oral microbiota specifically associated with systemic diseases appears to be a clinical biomarker, though more research is needed. If this clinical phenomenon is confirmed, using microbial detection to predict systemic diseases could be a game changer.
In the present Research Topic, we aim to assemble Original Research articles and Reviews discussing recent advancements in understanding the association between oral microbiota dysbiosis and the development of systemic conditions. Sub-themes include, but are not limited to the followings:
• The bidirectional relationship between the oral microbiota and systemic diseases.
• Oral microbial dysbiosis and its performance in predicting systemic diseases.
• The cellular and signaling networks in systemic diseases associated with oral microbiota dysbiosis.
• Genetics and inflammatory mechanisms linking oral microbial and immune dysbiosis to systemic human disease.
The human oral cavity harbors a complex ecosystem of numerous microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and bacteriophages, referred to as the oral microbiota. In a healthy state, the oral microbiota is composed of commensals. The mutual commensal oral microbiota plays a crucial role in promoting not only oral but also systemic health. However, in a diseased state, host-microbial networks lead to dysbiosis. The influence of oral microbiota dysbiosis can extend beyond the oral cavity, and systemic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and coronary artery disease are associated with the oral microbiota. A mechanistic understanding for such associations may arise from the ability of many oral microorganisms to alter the inflammatory microenvironment and to interfere with host signaling pathways that control cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, there is likely to be an alteration in oral microbial composition or bacterial pathogenicity in systemic pathologic conditions. Therefore, there may be a bidirectional relationship between oral microbiota and systemic diseases. To some extent, the abundance of oral microbiota specifically associated with systemic diseases appears to be a clinical biomarker, though more research is needed. If this clinical phenomenon is confirmed, using microbial detection to predict systemic diseases could be a game changer.
In the present Research Topic, we aim to assemble Original Research articles and Reviews discussing recent advancements in understanding the association between oral microbiota dysbiosis and the development of systemic conditions. Sub-themes include, but are not limited to the followings:
• The bidirectional relationship between the oral microbiota and systemic diseases.
• Oral microbial dysbiosis and its performance in predicting systemic diseases.
• The cellular and signaling networks in systemic diseases associated with oral microbiota dysbiosis.
• Genetics and inflammatory mechanisms linking oral microbial and immune dysbiosis to systemic human disease.
