Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40155488›Full record

ArticleClinical oral investigations2025

The landscape of the microbiome at different stages of root caries.

Mengzhen Ji, Kaixin Xiong, Di Fu, Yaqi Chi, Ye Wang, Lin Yao, Xueqin Yang, Yujia Yan, Hualing Zhu, Yanyao Li and 2 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Clinical oral investigations, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. [Age-Related Changes in the Oral Microbiota].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Co-infection with CbpJournal of oral microbiology · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mengzhen JiState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Kaixin XiongState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Di FuState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yaqi ChiState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Ye WangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Lin YaoState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xueqin YangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yujia YanState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Hualing ZhuState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yanyao LiState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Biao RenState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. renbiao@scu.edu.cn.
Ling ZouState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Conservation Dentistry and Endodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. zouling@scu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82071111
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the relationship between microorganisms and root caries, identify core species, and explore their interactions. MATERIALS AND

methodsThirty patients with different levels of root caries were included. Plaques from superficial (n = 30) and deep root caries (n = 30) and sound root surfaces (n = 30) were collected. Microbial diversity and composition across different stages of root caries were analyzed using 16 S rRNA and 18 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Wilcoxon paired comparisons were conducted to minimize individual variations. LefSe analysis was performed to identify stage-specific microbial enrichment. In vitro biofilm models of C. albicans, S. mutans and A. viscosus were established to examine the effects of C. albicans on biofilm formation, virulence factor expression, and metabolic pathway regulation. Fungal transcriptomes were sequenced to explore how fungal species affect bacterial growth and cariogenicity.

resultsNo significant differences in microbial diversity or structure were observed, but relative abundances of some species differed significantly (p < 0.05). LefSe analysis showed that the genus Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Lactobacillus, and Bacillus were enriched in superficial caries, whereas Prevotella was enriched in deep lesions. C. albicans was the predominant fungal species in root plaques and positively correlated with S. mutans and Actinomyces sp. HMT448. C. albicans promoted the growth, biofilm formation, and cariogenicity of S. mutans and A. viscosus via the arginine biosynthesis pathway.

conclusionOral microecology is stable, and species imbalance is a key factor in root caries. Cross-kingdom interactions between S. mutans, A. viscosus, and C. albicans enhance cariogenic biofilms via the arginine biosynthesis pathway, offering insights for clinical treatments of root caries. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our study revealed the first landscape of the microbiome from different stages of root caries and indicated that targeting the interactions of core species may be a practical way to prevent and treat clinical root caries.

Indexed as

MicrobiotaRoot CariesAdultBiofilmsCandida albicansFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedActinomyces viscosusCandida albicansCariogenic virulenceHigh-throughput DNA sequencingRoot cariesStreptococcus mutans

Identifiers

PMID40155488

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.