About this Research Topic
The oral cavity is a highly dynamic and diverse microbial ecosystem that harbors a wide range of bacterial species, which are involved in the formation of dental biofilms. However, disturbances in the balance of the oral microbiota can lead to the development of various oral diseases such as caries, periodontitis and oral cancer. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that oral pathogens and their products can also cause or contribute to systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, understanding the complex interactions between the oral microbiota and host systemic health is of utmost importance for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in biomaterials have led to the development of antibacterial biomaterials that can inhibit the growth and colonization of oral microbial communities. These biomaterials offer several advantages over conventional antimicrobial agents, such as improved durability and selectivity, reduced risk of resistance development, and the ability to target specific microbial species. However, the design and development of effective antibacterial biomaterials for the oral environment remain a significant challenge due to the complex and diverse nature of oral microbial communities.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for researchers to share their latest findings and insights into the oral microbiota and its impact on host systemic health, as well as the development of new antibacterial biomaterials. This Research Topic will cover recent advances in understanding the oral microbiome, including the identification and characterization of microbial communities, microbial interactions, and the role of the host immune system. We aim to highlight recent advances in both fields and showcase the potential for interdisciplinary collaborations to advance our understanding of the oral microbiome and to develop new strategies for treating oral diseases.
We welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, and Perspectives that address the following topics, including, but not limited to：
（1）Oral microbial ecology: The characterization of the oral microbial community structure, diversity, and dynamics in health and disease, using state-of-the-art techniques such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics
（2）Oral microbiota and oral diseases: Clarify the role and function of oral microbiota in oral diseases, or propose innovative research on the mechanisms and methods for targeting specific microbial communities to combat infections.
（3）Oral microbiota and systemic diseases: Study the role of oral microbiota in the occurrence and development of systemic diseases, or explore the relationship between oral microbiota and host immune responses, to propose new intervention targets and directions for the treatment of systemic diseases
（4）The impact of antibacterial biomaterials on the oral microbial community and the host immune system
（5）Novel approaches for the delivery of antibacterial agents to the oral cavity
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for researchers to share their latest findings and insights into the oral microbiota and its impact on host systemic health, as well as the development of new antibacterial biomaterials. This Research Topic will cover recent advances in understanding the oral microbiome, including the identification and characterization of microbial communities, microbial interactions, and the role of the host immune system. We aim to highlight recent advances in both fields and showcase the potential for interdisciplinary collaborations to advance our understanding of the oral microbiome and to develop new strategies for treating oral diseases.
We welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, and Perspectives that address the following topics, including, but not limited to：
（1）Oral microbial ecology: The characterization of the oral microbial community structure, diversity, and dynamics in health and disease, using state-of-the-art techniques such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics
（2）Oral microbiota and oral diseases: Clarify the role and function of oral microbiota in oral diseases, or propose innovative research on the mechanisms and methods for targeting specific microbial communities to combat infections.
（3）Oral microbiota and systemic diseases: Study the role of oral microbiota in the occurrence and development of systemic diseases, or explore the relationship between oral microbiota and host immune responses, to propose new intervention targets and directions for the treatment of systemic diseases
（4）The impact of antibacterial biomaterials on the oral microbial community and the host immune system
（5）Novel approaches for the delivery of antibacterial agents to the oral cavity
Keywords: dental biofilm, oral microbiota, antibacterial biomaterials, host-microbe interaction, regulatory mechanism
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
