The metagenome and metabolome signatures of dental biofilms associated with severe dental fluorosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore the plaque biofilm microbiome associated with severe dental fluorosis (SF), and to describe its metagenome and metabolome.

Methods

Sixteen plaque biofilm samples were collected from eight 6- to 15-year-old Thai children with SF and eight age-matched, caries-free and controls. Biofilms were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, followed by bioinformatics evaluation.

Results

Taxonomic profiling of biofilms from SF and controls identified a total of 12 phyla and 354 species. While alpha diversity was similar between the groups, beta diversity analysis (P = 0.0010) indicated distinct microbial community structures. LEfSe highlighted key discriminatory taxa: five health-associated species (Actinomyces dentalis, Tannerella sp. HOT 286

SUBMITTER: Ajrithirong P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12459186 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature