The tongue biofilm metatranscriptome identifies metabolic pathways associated with halitosis and its prevention

AbstractHalitosis is an oral condition caused by an increase in the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide, generated as a consequence of bacterial metabolism on the tongue biofilm. Microbial communities on the tongue of halitosis patients have been studied by bacterial culture, 16S rRNA taxonomic studies and metagenomics. However, there are currently no reports on the microbial gene-expression profiles. In this study, we performed RNAseq of tongue coating samples from control individuals and halitosis patients with different levels and composition of VSCs, as determined by gas chromatography. In this metatranscriptomic study, the ac…