Supragingival dental biofilm microbiomes of tobacco heating system smokers, cigarette smokers and non-smoker

Objectives The study compared the bacterial composition of supragingival dental biofilm (SDB) microbiome of THS smokers (THSS), cigarette smokers (CS) and non-smokers (NS). Materials and Methods In the present cross-sectional study a total of 60 subjects were divided in three groups: THS smokers (THSS), cigarette smokers (CS) and non-smokers (NS). SDB samples were collected, DNA was isolated and used for 16s rRNA gene hypervariable region amplicon, next generation sequencing. Determination of SDB bacterial taxa composition was performed through bioinformatic pipelines and analyses. Results Significant differences were found in the bacterial composition of SDB microbiomes between the examined groups on all taxonomic levels. The most significant differences were detected at genus level, specifically among the genera: Actinobaculum (p = 0.004), Avibacterium (p = 0.015), Alysiella (p = 0.016), Propionibacterium (p = 0.025) and Haemophilus (p = 0.030). Significant differences have also been found on the species level, with the most significant regarding Alysiella filiformis (p = 0.006), Avibacterium paragallinarum (p = 0.015), Prevotella multiformis (p = 0.016), Lactobacillus salivarius (p = 0.018), and Actinomyces massiliensis (p = 0.022). Conclusions The compositions of SDB of THSS, CS and NS are different, and due to increased anaerobic bacteria abundance with cariogenic properties, the dysbiosis pattern and pathogenic potential of THSS and CS dental biofilms compared to NS is considerably increased. Clinical Relevance: Due to bacterial composition the SDB of THSS and CS could have a higher pathogenic effect than the SDB of NS