Elucidation of connection between oral microbiome and dry mouth using metagenomic analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10421
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Kaneko Noboru 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 講師 (00397126)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 濃野 要 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 教授 (80422608)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ドライマウス / 菌叢解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the relationship between oral microflora and oral symptoms associated with dry mouth. First, we confirmed that mouthrinsed samples (spitted solution after mouthrinsing) were suitable as specimens collected from patients with dry mouth by comparing them with the microflora of stimulated saliva. Afterwards, microbiome analysis of the mouth rinsed samples was conducted between the xerostomia group and the normal group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in Shannon Entropy, an alpha-diversity index. Furthermore, no clear difference was observed in Weighted Unifrac distance, which is a beta-diversity index. However, the principal component for patients who complained of severe tongue pain due to dry mouth was plotted at a location far away from that of other subjects. In this patient, the proportion of Streptococcus was higher than in other subjects, and among these, the proportion of the anginosus group was particularly high.

Free Research Field

予防歯科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者の増加に伴いドライマウス患者が増加している。ドライマウスに伴う口腔症状としては舌痛等の粘膜症状があり、これまで、こうした粘膜症状に関わる口腔細菌としては、カンジダ菌が挙げられていた。本研究により、それらに加えて口腔細菌叢の組成の変化と一部のレンサ球菌が粘膜症状に関わっている可能性が示唆された。また、口腔粘膜症状のあるドライマウス患者に対して苦痛なく口腔細菌叢を調べるための検体として、洗口サンプルを用いることの妥当性が確認された。