All living things adapt to survive, and bacteria are no different. Over time, some harmful bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants.
This has made treating infections more difficult. But not all bacteria are bad. In fact, many kinds of bacteria help keep our bodies healthy.
This has led scientists to ask a new question: instead of trying to kill all bacteria, could we guide them to behave in healthier ways?
In the human mouth alone, there are about 700 types of bacteria.
These bacteria don’t just live quietly—they communicate with each other using a process called quorum sensing. This is like a group chat using chemical signals. One type of signal, called N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), helps bacteria send and receive messages so they can act as a team.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences and School of Dentistry wanted to understand how bacteria in the mouth use these signals.
Their goal was to see if changing the way bacteria talk to each other could stop plaque from forming and help maintain a healthier mouth. Their results were published in the journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, and they offer exciting new ideas for treating gum disease and other oral health problems.
The scientists found that AHL signals are mostly produced in areas of the mouth that have a lot of oxygen, like above the gumline. But these signals can still be picked up by bacteria in lower-oxygen areas, like below the gums. When the researchers used special enzymes called lactonases to block the AHL signals, they saw a rise in bacteria linked to better oral health.
This means that it may be possible to control which bacteria thrive in our mouths by managing how they communicate. For example, stopping certain signals might prevent harmful bacteria from taking over, while helping good bacteria stay strong.
The research team compared the buildup of dental plaque to the growth of a forest. First, you have early settlers like Streptococcus and Actinomyces. These bacteria are usually harmless and help keep the mouth healthy.
Over time, more complex bacteria move in, including those known as the “red complex,” such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. These later bacteria are linked to gum disease. By interrupting the way bacteria talk, we might be able to keep plaque in its early, healthy stage.
One key discovery was how oxygen levels affect bacterial behavior. When researchers blocked AHL signals in oxygen-rich areas, healthy bacteria increased. But when they added AHLs in low-oxygen settings, harmful bacteria grew.
This shows that quorum sensing works differently depending on where it happens in the mouth, and it might explain why gum disease starts below the gumline.
Next, the researchers want to explore how bacterial communication changes in different parts of the mouth and in people with various stages of gum disease. Their long-term goal is to create new treatments that focus on keeping the microbial community in balance, rather than wiping it out completely.
This research could lead to new ways to treat not just gum disease but other health problems linked to bacterial imbalances. Instead of fighting bacteria with drugs, we might learn to guide them toward better behavior. This approach could even help in other areas of the body where an unhealthy microbiome is linked to diseases, including some cancers.
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The research was published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes.
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