Benign, potentially malignant & malignant oral lesions; an analysis of oral and gut microbiota

Introduction: The human microbiome is widely known to be associated with health and disease. The oral microbiome has been linked with oral diseases and infections, though not many studies have explored the relation between oral and gut microbiome with oral cancer based on their histology. This study explores the oral and gut microbiota in 30 participants (n=30) divided in to three groups based on histology; benign (B) (n=15), potentially malignant (PM) (n=8), and malignant (M) (n=7) oral lesions. Methods: Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we analysed the microbiota profiles to determine their potential as biomarkers for oral malignancy. We looked at alpha diversity, beta diversity, taxonomy, differential abundance, and functional profiling. Results: Our results showed distinct gut microbial profiles between benign and malignant groups and the association of specific microbes in oral saliva, such as Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Veillonella parvula with malignancy. The influence of factors such as smoking, alcohol and oral hygiene was also studied, with oral hygiene being the leading factor explaining the variance in oral and gut microbial composition. Conclusions: Our study suggests that oral and gut microbiomes could act as possible biomarkers and aid in early detection and assessment of oral cancer risk. Further research is required to develop definitive biomarkers in both potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions.

Grantor dc:publisher

University College Cork

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Nayyar, Junaid

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Brady, Paul
• Ross, R. Paul
• Stanton, Catherine

• Oral cancer
• Oral potentially malignant lesions
• Oral microbiome
• Gut microbiome

Statement dc:rights

• © 2024, Junaid Nayyar.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10468/16407

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cora.ucc.ie:10468/16407