Cross-kingdom Microbial Interactions Within the Oral Cavity and Their Implications for Oral Disease

Abstract

Purpose of Review: This review serves to highlight the cross-kingdom interactions that can occur within the human oral cavity between fungus Candida albicans and oral bacteria, and their impact on the delicate balance between oral health and disease. Recent Findings: A growing number of physical, chemical, and metabolic networks have been identified that underpin these cross-kingdom interactions. Moreover, these partnerships are often synergistic and can modulate microbial burden or virulence. This, in turn, can drive the onset or progression of oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, denture-associated stomatitis, and oral cancer. Summary: The impact of cross-kingdom interactions on the cellular, biochemical, and communal composition of oral microbial biofilms is increasingly clear. With growing insight into these processes at the molecular level, so this knowledge can be used to better inform the development of novel strategies to manipulate the oral microbiota to promote oral health and combat oral disease.