Nitrite-producing oral microbiome in adults and children

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 16652
• Main Authors: Sato-Suzuki, Yuria, Washio, Jumpei, Wicaksono, Dimas Prasetianto, Sato, Takuichi, Fukumoto, Satoshi, Takahashi, Nobuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.10.2020; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326; 631/326/2565; 631/326/41; 631/326/46; 692/700; 692/700/3032; Actinomyces - isolation & purification; Actinomyces - metabolism; Actinomycetaceae - isolation & purification; Actinomycetaceae - metabolism; Adolescent; Adult; Bacteria, Anaerobic - isolation & purification; Bacteria, Anaerobic - metabolism; Biofilms; Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Plaque - microbiology; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; Microbiota; Micrococcaceae - isolation & purification; Micrococcaceae - metabolism; Mouth - microbiology; multidisciplinary; Neisseria - isolation & purification; Neisseria - metabolism; Nitrites - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Veillonella - isolation & purification; Veillonella - metabolism; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73479-1

Recently, it was suggested that the nitrite (NO 2 − ) produced from NO 3 − by oral bacteria might contribute to oral and general health. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the detailed information about the bacterial NO 2 -production in the oral biofilm. Dental plaque and tongue-coating samples were collected, then the NO 2 -producing activity was measured. Furthermore, the composition of the NO 2 − -producing bacterial population were identified using the Griess reagent-containing agar overlay method and molecular biological method. NO 2 − -producing activity per mg wet weight varied among individuals but was higher in dental plaque. Additionally, anaerobic bacteria exhibited higher numbers of NO 2 − -producing bacteria, except in the adults’ dental plaque. The proportion of NO 2 − -producing bacteria also varied among individuals, but a positive correlation was found between NO 2 − -producing activity and the number of NO 2 − -producing bacteria, especially in dental plaque. Overall, the major NO 2 − -producing bacteria were identified as Actinomyces, Schaalia, Veillonella and Neisseria . Furthermore, Rothia was specifically detected in the tongue coatings of children. These results suggest that dental plaque has higher NO 2 − -producing activity and that this activity depends not on the presence of specific bacteria or the bacterial compositions, but on the number of NO 2 − -producing bacteria, although interindividual differences were detected.