Abstract:

This study investigates antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains in the salivary microbiome of patients with White Spot Lesions (WSL) using a metagenomic approach. The aim is to better understand microbial-host interactions in dental caries and bacterial diseases in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Saliva samples from three WSL patients were collected and analyzed for bacterial diversity, AMR, and metabolic profiling. Metagenomic sequencing identified Acetobacter and Lactobacillus species as predominant in the saliva of WSL patients, with variations in microbial diversity between samples. WSLMic3 had lower Acetobacter and higher Lactobacillus compared to WSLMic1 and WSLMic2. Additionally, ammonia-oxidizing (89.8%) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (85.4%) were the most prevalent. AMR was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, revealing the challenge of antibiotic resistance in managing oral conditions. DNA extraction was performed with the ZR Microbe DNA MiniPrep™ kit, followed by metagenomic analysis using the GAIA 2.0 workflow and GLE module for genus-level identification. Alpha and Beta diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon, Simpson) were calculated, and pathway-level metabolic profiling was predicted using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. This study highlights the importance of profiling pathogenic strains linked to WSL and the role of AMR in oral microbiota. Identifying these strains could aid in developing targeted therapies to manage WSL more effectively and address AMR challenges in orthodontic patients.

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