The study has been published in Microbiology Spectrum, the scientific journal of the American Society of Microbiology.
The research by international oral healthcare company, Sunstar, looked at the relationship between oral bacterial species in saliva and the progression of periodontal diseases.
The study examined 611 Sunstar employees, aged between 20 and 75 years old. Saliva samples were taken and divided into four quartiles based on the percentage of F.nucleatum present. Analysis of the number of oral bacterial species contained in each quartile identified that a higher rate of F.nucleatum in saliva increased the number and affected the diversity of bacteria in the mouth.
The percentage of F.nucleatum in saliva interacted proportionally with the percentage of 28 species of oral bacteria, like red complex bacteria, but also with a new species of periodontal bacteria – Filifactor alocis – as well as Fretibacterium spp. Previous research exploring the relationship between oral bacteria in saliva and the condition of periodontal tissues had already demonstrated that an increase in the percentage of F.nucleatum in saliva impacts the level of periodontal disease.
With F.nucleatum already known for playing a central role in the formation of dental plaque, which causes periodontal disease, these findings suggest that the control of F.nucleatum is key to controlling a wide range of periodontal pathogens. This includes red complex bacteria, a very important bacterium to target in the prevention of periodontal disease.
Fusobacterium nucleatum has also been reported to be associated with other diseases and is frequently detected in the intestines of colorectal cancer patients. Therefore, Sunstar’s scientists believe that controlling F. nucleatum in the mouth is an important factor not just in the effective prevention of periodontal diseases, but for systemic health as well.
The company has said it will continue its research and development into controlling F.nucleatum to help provide further insight into periodontal disease prevention.
References available on request.