The metagenome and metabolome signatures of dental biofilms associated with severe dental fluorosis
- Penpitcha Ajrithirong, Annop Krasaesin, Wannakorn Sriarj, Patcharaporn Gavila, Wanna Chetruengchai, Kanokwan Sriwattanapong, Chawan Manaspon, Lakshman Samaranayake, Thantrira Porntaveetus
- https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2025.2560591
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, Candidatus Nanosynbacter sp, Selenomonas noxia and Treponema sp OMZ 804 ) were enriched in controls, while Neisseria sicca, known for fluoride-sensitive esterase production, was significantly elevated in SF. Functionally, eight metabolic pathways were altered; three of these (phosphatidylcholine acyl editing, anhydromuropeptides recycling II, ubiquinol-7 biosynthesis), hypothesized to support N. sicca activity, were upregulated in the SF group.
Conclusion
SF is associated with a significant shift in the biofilm microbiota, characterized by enrichment of N. sicca and a reduction in health-associated taxa. Altered metabolic pathways supporting N. sicca provide mechanistic insights into its role as a candidate biomarker for fluorosis, warranting further investigation.