Advances in the microbial etiology and pathogenesis of early childhood caries

Abstract

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases affecting children worldwide. ECC is an aggressive form of dental caries, which left untreated, can result in rapid and extensive cavitation in teeth (rampant caries) that is painful and costly to treat. Furthermore, it affects mostly children from impoverished background, and thus constitutes a major challenge in public health. The disease is a prime example of the consequences arising from complex, dynamic interactions between microorganisms, host and diet, leading to the establishment of highly pathogenic (cariogenic) biofilms. To date, there are no effective methods to identify those at risk of developing ECC or control the disease in affected children. Recent advances in deep-sequencing technologies, novel imaging methods and (meta)proteomics-metabolomics approaches provide an unparalleled potential to reveal new insights to illuminate our current understanding about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. In this concise review, we provide a broader perspective about the etiology and pathogenesis of ECC based on previous and current knowledge on biofilm matrix, microbial diversity and host-microbe interactions which could have direct implications for developing new approaches for improved risk assessment and prevention of this devastating and costly childhood health condition.

Relationship between herpesviruses and periodontal disease progression

“…Several studies in recent years point to a putative role of select human herpesviruses (HHVs) in the aetiology of periodontitis (Hajishengallis et al, ; Saygun, Kubar, Ozdemir, Yapar, & Slots, ; Slots, , ; Slots, Saygun, Sabeti, & Kubar, ; Zhu et al, ). These viruses are reported to interact with periodontal pathogens (Imai, Victoriano, Ochiai, & Okamoto, ), infect inflammatory defence cells, and incite cytokine release (Sabeti, Kermani, Sabeti, & Simon, ), which are purported to accelerate periodontal disease progression (Slots, , ).…”

“…This highly prevalent infection is caused primarily by increases in Gram-negative bacteria that elicit dysregulated host defence responses, dysbiosis, and tissue destruction (Eke et al, 2015(Eke et al, , 2016Sanz et al, 2015). Although a chronic bacterial infection, periodontitis paradoxically displays cyclical periods of exacerbation and remission suggesting that other microorganisms may be involved (Gonzalez et al, 2018;Goodson, Tanner, Haffajee, Sornberger, & Socransky, 1982;Hajishengallis, Parsaei, Klein, & Koo, 2017;Lindhe, Haffajee, & Socransky, 1983;Teles, Patel, Socransky, & Haffajee, 2008).…”

“…Several studies in recent years point to a putative role of select human herpesviruses (HHVs) in the aetiology of periodontitis (Hajishengallis et al, 2017; 2 | MATERIAL AND ME THODS…”

Educational strategies and atraumatic restorative treatment effect on salivary characteristics: A controlled clinical trial

“…Streptococcus mutans has been considered one of the most cariogenic microorganisms because of its features and metabolic activities and, therefore, the level of these microorganisms in biofilm and saliva is of importance in determining the patient's risk of caries development (Carvalho & Bezerra, ; Hajishengallis, Parsaei, Klein, & Koo, ; Mattos‐Graner, Klein, & Smith, ). Saliva may not direct reflect the bacterial composition or metabolic activity found in biofilm of the diseased sites (Simón‐Soro & Mira, ); nevertheless, it has been useful in monitoring early childhood caries risk (Nie et al., ) as it effectively bathes all mouth surfaces and is also related to other oral diseases beyond dental caries.…”

Propriedades antibacterianas e anticariogênicas do xilitol: uma revisão da literatura

“…The same research group later stated that it cannot be underestimated the role of MGS in the activation of the dysbiotic state, promoting adherence and acidification during the initial ecological changes in dental caries process. 4 These aspects were reinforced by Hajishengallis et al, 30 who considered S. mutans as important agents in the consolidation of the biofilm structure (through the polysaccharide matrix assembly), essential for the dysbiotic process to occur. Therefore, the present literature review aimed at the effects of xylitol on several microorganisms, including S. mutans, which are the most studied bacteria in dental caries microbiology.…”