Defining functional signatures of dysbiosis in periodontitis progression.
Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease that leads to tooth loss and has been linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The periodontal microbiome is highly diverse, and metatranscriptomic studies have indicated that the genes that are expressed by the microbiota are more relevant than the microbial composition in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. A recent study of early metabolic activities in the dysbiotic microbiome reveals a functional signature that distinguishes periodontal sites that will become inflamed, supporting the idea that microbial communities as a whole drive disease progression.
Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ; North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Medical Service, 1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 USA.
Gary P
0000-0002-3457-442X
GP
Wang