Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study

The subgingival microbiome is a critical component of the oral microbiota and plays a central role in pediatric periodontology. This study investigated differences in periodontopathogen profiles in children with gingival inflammation compared to healthy controls using real-time PCR, with a focus on...

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Main Authors: Hristina Tankova, Nadezhda Mitova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1656
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author Hristina Tankova
Nadezhda Mitova
author_facet Hristina Tankova
Nadezhda Mitova
author_sort Hristina Tankova
collection DOAJ
description The subgingival microbiome is a critical component of the oral microbiota and plays a central role in pediatric periodontology. This study investigated differences in periodontopathogen profiles in children with gingival inflammation compared to healthy controls using real-time PCR, with a focus on the microbial complexes defined by Socransky. A total of 73 children (ages 10–14) underwent comprehensive periodontal assessment, including assessments of general health status, the O’Leary hygiene index (HI), gingival condition, and the papillary bleeding index (PBI). Subgingival plaque samples were analyzed using real-time PCR to identify key bacterial species associated with gingival health and disease. Highly pathogenic periodontopathogens such as <i>Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans</i>, <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>, <i>Treponema denticola</i>, and <i>Eubacterium nodatum</i> were absent in healthy subjects. In contrast, <i>Tannerella forsythia</i> was significantly more frequently detected in children with gingival inflammation (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The most abundant species in the inflammation group were <i>Prevotella intermedia</i> and <i>Capnocytophaga gingivalis.</i> Children with gingival inflammation exhibit a distinct subgingival microbiome profile characterized by an increased presence of specific periodontopathogens, including a higher prevalence of red complex species as defined by Socransky. However, the cross-sectional nature of this study limits the ability to establish causal relationships.
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spelling doaj-art-0b2ac761f2eb4d41b20511775abf8f572025-08-20T02:47:17ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-07-01137165610.3390/microorganisms13071656Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR StudyHristina Tankova0Nadezhda Mitova1Department of Pediatric Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Pediatric Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaThe subgingival microbiome is a critical component of the oral microbiota and plays a central role in pediatric periodontology. This study investigated differences in periodontopathogen profiles in children with gingival inflammation compared to healthy controls using real-time PCR, with a focus on the microbial complexes defined by Socransky. A total of 73 children (ages 10–14) underwent comprehensive periodontal assessment, including assessments of general health status, the O’Leary hygiene index (HI), gingival condition, and the papillary bleeding index (PBI). Subgingival plaque samples were analyzed using real-time PCR to identify key bacterial species associated with gingival health and disease. Highly pathogenic periodontopathogens such as <i>Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans</i>, <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>, <i>Treponema denticola</i>, and <i>Eubacterium nodatum</i> were absent in healthy subjects. In contrast, <i>Tannerella forsythia</i> was significantly more frequently detected in children with gingival inflammation (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The most abundant species in the inflammation group were <i>Prevotella intermedia</i> and <i>Capnocytophaga gingivalis.</i> Children with gingival inflammation exhibit a distinct subgingival microbiome profile characterized by an increased presence of specific periodontopathogens, including a higher prevalence of red complex species as defined by Socransky. However, the cross-sectional nature of this study limits the ability to establish causal relationships.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1656microbiomechildrenperiodontopathogensgingival inflammation
spellingShingle Hristina Tankova
Nadezhda Mitova
Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study
Microorganisms
microbiome
children
periodontopathogens
gingival inflammation
title Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study
title_full Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study
title_fullStr Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study
title_full_unstemmed Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study
title_short Subgingival Microbiome Profiles in Bulgarian Children Aged 10–14 with Gingival Inflammation and Healthy Periodontium: A Targeted PCR Study
title_sort subgingival microbiome profiles in bulgarian children aged 10 14 with gingival inflammation and healthy periodontium a targeted pcr study
topic microbiome
children
periodontopathogens
gingival inflammation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1656
work_keys_str_mv AT hristinatankova subgingivalmicrobiomeprofilesinbulgarianchildrenaged1014withgingivalinflammationandhealthyperiodontiumatargetedpcrstudy
AT nadezhdamitova subgingivalmicrobiomeprofilesinbulgarianchildrenaged1014withgingivalinflammationandhealthyperiodontiumatargetedpcrstudy