AUTHOR=Cui Yuqi , Wang Yinuo , Zhang Yuwen , Pang Liangyue , Zhou Yan , Lin Huancai , Tao Ye 

TITLE=Oral Mycobiome Differences in Various Spatial Niches With and Without Severe Early Childhood Caries

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.748656

DOI=10.3389/fped.2021.748656

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Purpose: Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is a microbe-mediated tooth hard tissue destruction disease. However, the role of the fungal community in various ecological niches of deciduous dental caries has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences of mycobiome in diverse spatial niches with and without S-ECC. Method: A total of 48 samples were obtained from 8 S-ECC children (SE group) and 8 caries-free children (CF group) aged 3-4 years. Unstimulated saliva (S), healthy supragingival plaque (FMIX), mixed plaque from decayed teeth (SMIX) and caries lesion (DMIX) samples were collected. The ITS2 region of the fungi was amplified and sequenced using the Ion S5TMXL platform. Results: A total of 281 species were identified. Candida albicans was the most abundant species in S-ECC children, while Alternaria_alternata and Bipolaris_sorokiniana were found in CF group. In this study, the relative abundance of C. albicans in CF.FMIX (0.4%), SE.FMIX (12.5%), SE.SMIX (24.0%), and SE.DMIX (37.2%) increased successively. Significant fungal species richness and diversity variations were observed between SE.FMIX-SE.SMIX, SE.FMIX-SE.DMIX (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The diversity of fungal communities in S-ECC children showed significant differences in various spatial niches of primary teeth. The richness of C. albicans was closely related to the caries states and depth, suggesting that it may be crucial in caries pathogenicity.