Differences in carbon source usage by dental plaque in children with and without early childhood caries

Research Summary

Early childhood caries: Disease-associated bacteria prefer carbs over protein

Bacteria in dental plaque from children with early childhood caries metabolize carbon from different sources than bacteria from healthy individuals. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common chronic disease in children. Scientists from the Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology led by Feng Chen and Yunsong Liu, compared the oral microbe populations of 18 ECC patients and 18 caries-free children. The team found that bacteria in plaque from ECC patients preferred certain sugars and carbohydrates as carbon sources, whereas bacteria from healthy subjects preferred certain amino acids and short protein chains. Analysis showed that anaerobic bacteria in ECC patients exhibited greater metabolic activity than those from the caries-free group. This study indicates that metabolic profiles could act as ‘signatures’ of disease states, and that further studies might suggest carbohydrates for ECC-susceptible children to avoid.