Identification of Salivary Microorganisms and Metabolites Associated with Halitosis

• Main Authors: Jae-kwon Jo, Seung-Ho Seo, Seong-Eun Park, Hyun-Woo Kim, Eun-Ju Kim, Chang-Su Na, Kwang-Moon Cho, Sun-Jae Kwon, Young-Ho Moon, Hong-Seok Son
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Metabolites
• Subjects: halitosis; microbiome; metabolomics; cadaverine; putrescine
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/11/6/362

Halitosis is mainly caused by the action of oral microbes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in salivary microbes and metabolites between subjects with and without halitosis. Of the 52 participants, 22 were classified into the halitosis group by the volatile sulfur compound analysis on breath samples. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metabolomics approaches were used to investigate the difference in microbes and metabolites in saliva of the control and halitosis groups. The profiles of microbiota and metabolites were relatively different between the halitosis and control groups. The relative abundances of <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Alloprevotella</i>, and <i>Megasphaera</i> were significantly higher in the halitosis group. In contrast, the relative abundances of <i>Streptococcus</i>, <i>Rothia</i>, and <i>Haemophilus</i> were considerably higher in the control group. The levels of 5-aminovaleric acid and n-acetylornithine were significantly higher in the halitosis group. The correlation between identified metabolites and microbiota reveals that <i>Alloprevotella</i> and <i>Prevotella</i> might be related to the cadaverine and putrescine pathways that cause halitosis. This study could provide insight into the mechanisms of halitosis.