Inter-kingdom interactions and environmental influences on the oral microbiome in severe early childhood caries.

ABSTRACT: Dental caries arise from intricate interactions among oral microorganisms, impacting ecological stability and disease progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the microbial diversity and inter-kingdom interactions in severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and assess the influence of environmental factors such as salivary pH and trace elements. We analyzed 61 children aged 3-4 years with complete deciduous dentition, evaluating salivary pH, buffering capacity, and trace elements (iron, fluoride). We examined the performance of 16S rRNA V1-V9 regions gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primers for bacteria and fungi from plaque and saliva to characterize community compositions and diversity. Findings revealed significant shifts in bacterial diversity in S-ECC saliva samples,

SUBMITTER: Weng L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12131756 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature