Answer questions for the abstract

Oral microbiome and diabetes and obesity

Background: Diabetes and obesity are among the leading health problems in the US. Oral microbiome may play roles in maintaining systemic health including diabetes and obesity, through pathogen inhibition, immune regulation, nutrition absorption and absorption, and as a portal for bacteria to gain access into the respiratory and digestive tracts. However, direct evidence linking oral microbiome and diabetes and obesity is lacking.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study nested from the Southern Community Cohort Study, and sequenced the mouth rinsing samples for the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq.

Results: A total of 693 OTUs were obtained. For each OTU, the prevalence was positively correlated to the abundance. A core microbiome composed of five genera was identified and they together comprised 83.3% of the community. Taxa in the class Clostridia increased with aging and family Leptotrichiaceae was more prevalent in Blacks relative to Whites. Phyla Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes were more abundant among participants with less education. Smokers were depleted for the phylum Proteobacteria and enriched for the phylum Actinobacteria relative to non-smokers; however, these two phyla were recovered after cessation of smoking. Alcohol drinkers, especially among Blacks with liquor consumption, were enriched for class Clostridia (phylum Firmicutes). Tooth loss was associated with decreased abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria. Phylum Actinobacteria was less common among diabetes patients than normal weight controls. Among obese patients, increased abundance was observed for family Carnobacteriaceae, and decreased abundance was observed for family Lachnospiraceae, phylum Cyanobacteria and genus Catonella.

Conclusion: In the present study, a core oral microbiome was observed in a cohort comprised largely of Blacks and low-income adults. Multiple taxa showed strong associations with demographic and lifestyle factors and diabetes and obesity etiology. A more comprehensive investigation with a large sample size is warranted.

From the Abstract Answer the following questions .

1. What unknown question is the scientist/author addressing or attempting to answer and or understand?

2. From reading the abstract, what do you propose the hypothesis to be?

3. What model was used?

4. Give at least one outcome or result of the study.

5. Name one experimental tool that was used to achieve the above outcome.

6. What is the importance of the study?

7. Does this study provide any broader impact for mankind? Why or why not?

8. What protein(s) or cell type is (are) the target(s) of this study? What other protein or cell type might be used to address the problem?