Investigating the microorganisms found in the mouths of healthy people

Background and study aims Human microbial communities are highly complex ecosystems, but the microbial composition of distinct sites of the oral cavity (mouth) is not clear. On the other hand, dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) has been associated with different diseases, including autoimmune disorders, diabetes, obesity, colon cancer and even psychiatric conditions. Studies are needed to define the human microbiota in healthy people, before studying any potential association of the microbiome with specific diseases. The aim of this study is to create a site-specific map of the oral microbiome in order to define which microorganisms colonize each surface of the oral cavity using non-invasive sampling procedures. Furthermore, a technique analyzing the whole microbiota (by mouth rinse) will be compared to the results obtained with individual sampling at the different sites, to find out whether it is equally sensitive and precise, as it might be used routinely in the diagnosis of dysbiosis.