What is it about?
This paper showed how RNA and DNA sequences can be used to detect and identify the constituents of a sample that is contaminated with many species of bacteria. Using the unique sequences of bacterial RNA or DNA to detect their presence permits the detection of rare, slow growing, or otherwise fastidious bacteria to be identified even if their growth requirements are not yet known.
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Why is it important?
Bacteria from the same 6 phyla consistently dominated the healthy oral cavities in three different host species. The findings were surprising because: A. So many different types of bacteria can enter the mouth (in food and water, and through social activities such as grooming or kissing) that lots of different bacteria could potentially colonize the dental or oral tissues. B. Since primates (humans) and carnivores (dogs and cats) are so very different, it was not expected that the same 6 bacterial phyla would predominate.
Perspectives
In health, there are hundreds of different bacterial species that live in the mouths of macroscopic hosts (such as humans, dogs, and cats) which are tolerated by the host immune system and which do not incite an inflammatory response. Of all of the potential bacteria that find their way into our mouths every day, only a relatively small number have developed mechanisms to attach to teeth or to the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth etc. Even though our immune system is designed to kill such invaders, the ones that have adapted to live in our mouths do not trigger the body's immune defense mechanisms. It is believed that co-evolution occurred between certain bacteria and macroscopic hosts in which both parties receive benefits.
Dr. Eric M Davis
Animal Dental Specialists of Upstate New York
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Gene Sequence Analyses of the Healthy Oral Microbiome in Humans and Companion Animals, Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, June 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0898756416657239.
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