A Microbial Time Capsule in Dental Plaque

Ancient microbiome analysis uncovered regional variation and evolutionary changes in oral microorganisms

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A study analyzed dental calculus from 118 historical Japanese individuals, revealing differences in oral microbial composition over time.
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Researchers identified 285 oral microbial species, noting significant differences between ancient and modern oral microbiomes.
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Increased prevalence of Methanobrevibacter oralis, linked to periodontitis, was found in historical samples compared to modern ones.
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Regional variations in microbial prevalence were observed between mainland Japan and Okinawa, particularly for M. oralis and Actinomyces species.
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The study emphasizes dental calculus as a valuable source for analyzing historical microbial DNA and understanding oral microbial evolution.

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