The oral microbiota, established within the first months of life, is crucial for developing systemic and mucosal immunity. Early colonizers like Streptococcus and Veillonella dominate at birth, with Neisseria emerging later. This microbial diversity influences the risk of allergies, asthma, and oral diseases. Breastmilk plays a significant role in promoting beneficial bacteria. While adult oral microbiome studies are common, research on children's oral microbiota, especially in healthy states, is limited.

COO:s roll i projektet


Projekttid

2016-2025

Samarbetspartner

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, FISABIO Foundation, Genomics & Health Department, Valencia (Spain)

Finansiär

FORSS

Forskare

  • Malin Stensson, PhD, Associate professor, School of Health and welfare, JU
  • Alex Mira , PhD, FISABIO, Valencia, School of Health and welfare, JU
  • Karel Duchén, Associate professor, Linköping University,
  • Maria Jenmalm, Professor Linköping University,

Kontaktperson

Malin Stensson

Motiv till studien

The oral cavity's microbial community is vital for developing systemic and mucosal immunity. Established within the first months of life, the oral microbiota is shaped by environmental factors, known as the "open window effect." Early colonizers like Streptococcus and Veillonella are predominant at birth, while Neisseria appears after the first year. This early microbial diversity is crucial for health, influencing the risk of allergies, asthma, and oral diseases. Breastmilk, rich in human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), plays a significant role in promoting beneficial bacteria and modulating immune responses.

Most studies on oral microbiome focus on adults, detailing healthy states and pathological changes. In contrast, research on children's oral microbiome mainly addresses dysbiosis, with limited information on oral eubiosis. Understanding the detailed composition of infants' oral microbiota in relation to dietary and environmental factors is essential for developing strategies to prevent general and oral diseases.

Material och metod

Children participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled allergy prevention study, with pre-and postnatal ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and L. reuteri supplementation. Saliva samples are collected from 114 children at 12 months of age, analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing (PacBio platform). Salivary secretory IgA levels are analyzed by ELISA, HMO levels in colostrum and milk samples with high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Statistical analyses (Wilcox and ANCOM-BC) are used to identify differences in bacterial composition in four different supplementation groups. Correlations are analyzed between microbiome composition and demographic and environmental variables. Analyze and manuscript writing is ongoing.

Vetenskapliga publikationer

Stensson M, Koch G, Coric S, Abrahamsson TR, Jenmalm MC, Birkhed D, et al. Oral administration of Lactobacillus reuteri during the first year of life reduces caries prevalence in the primary dentition at 9 years of age. Caries Res. 2014;48(2):111–7.

Dzidic M, Collado MC, Abrahamsson T, Artacho A, Stensson M, Jenmalm MC, et al. Oral microbiome development during childhood: an ecological succession influenced by postnatal factors and associated with tooth decay. ISME J. 2018;12(9):2292–306.