Oral Microbiome in Health and Systemic Diseases (Overview)

Overview

Purpose

Oral microbiology is evolving from studying the individual bacteria to the relationship between oral microecological balance and systemic diseases. It is necessary to identify gaps in knowledge regarding interactions among oral bacteria, viruses, fungi, and the host to advance research on the oral microbiome's role in health and disease.

Objectives:

  1. Improve current knowledge of mechanisms of host interactions with the oral microbiome (or specific microbes or consortia) affecting host health and disease. Identify knowledge gaps and research priorities for oral microbiome studies that define mechanisms in both local and distal tissues that contribute to disease development (in different populations, age, sex as a variable).
  2. Identify interventions for modulating oral microbiota for disease interception and risk reduction (cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative)
  3. Evaluate tools and methodologies for analyzing oral microbiome.

Planning Committee:

Gabriela Riscuta M.D., NCI chair
Hye-Sook Kim Ph.D, NCCIH
Phil Daschner Ph.D., NCI
Tamara McNealy Ph.D., NIDCR
Altaf Mohammed Ph.D., NCI
Emmanuel Mongodin Ph.D., NHLBI
Mukesh Verma Ph.D., NCI
Anil Wali Ph.D., NCI
David Jett Ph.D, NINDS