Cross-sectional comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis of the subgingival resistome in healthy subjects and patients with periodontitis from four countries. - 2026
Cross-sectional comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis of the subgingival resistome in healthy subjects and patients with periodontitis from four countries.
Arredondo, A; Àlvarez, G; Isabal, Set al.
2026 • In Journal of Oral Microbiology, 18 (1), p. 2610588
Cross-sectional comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis of the subgingival resistome in healthy subjects and patients with periodontitis from four co.pdf
[en] [en] BACKGROUND: The oral cavity is a known reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), but little is known about their subgingival distribution across health states and regions.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize and compare the subgingival resistome and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in healthy subjects (HS) and periodontitis patients (PP) from Belgium, Chile, Peru and Spain.
DESIGN: Subgingival samples pooled from the deepest site of each quadrant of 40 HS and 40 PP were analyzed via shotgun metagenomic sequencing. After human DNA depletion, the microbial composition was assessed with MetaPhlAn 4.0; ARGs were identified using MEGAHIT and AMRFinderPlus; and MGEs with MGEfinder.
RESULTS: ARG richness was significantly higher in PP (mean 3.98) than in HS (2.15). PP from Peru showed more ARGs than HS from Chile and Spain. In total, 28 ARGs were found, conferring resistance to eight antibiotic classes. β-lactam, tetracycline and aminoglycoside resistance were more abundant in PP. Macrolide resistance was lower in Chilean samples than in Peruvian and Spanish ones. Additionally, 99 MGE-associated genes were detected, with 16 differing by diagnosis and 78 by country.
CONCLUSIONS: Subgingival resistome profiles vary significantly by periodontal status and geography, underscoring the influence of clinical and regional factors on antimicrobial resistance in the oral microbiome.
Research Center/Unit :
d‐BRU - Dental Biomaterials Research Unit - ULiège
Disciplines :
Dentistry & oral medicine
Author, co-author :
Arredondo, A ; Department of Microbiology, Dentaid Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
Àlvarez, G; Department of Microbiology, Dentaid Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
Isabal, S; Department of Microbiology, Dentaid Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
Teughels, W; Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven & Dentistry, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Germany ; Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Malaya University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Laleman, Isabelle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences dentaires ; Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven & Dentistry, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Germany
Contreras, M J; School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Isbej, L; School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile ; School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Huapaya, E; Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
Mendoza, G; Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru ; Department of Periodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Mor, C; Department of Periodontology, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Nart, J; Department of Periodontology, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Blanc, V; Department of Microbiology, Dentaid Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
León, R; Department of Microbiology, Dentaid Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
Cross-sectional comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis of the subgingival resistome in healthy subjects and patients with periodontitis from four countries.
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