Researchers at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities College of Biological Sciences and the School of Dentistry set out to explore how bacteria in the mouth communicate and whether that communication could be deliberately disrupted. Their goal was to determine if interfering with these signals could help prevent plaque buildup and support a healthier oral microbiome. The findings, published in the journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, suggest that this approach could reshape how doctors think about treating bacterial diseases.

The researchers discovered several important patterns in how oral bacteria communicate and organise themselves: bacteria in dental plaque generate acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signals in oxygen-rich areas (such as above the gumline), and those signals can be detected by bacteria living in oxygen-poor regions (beneath the gumline); and, eliminating AHL signals using specialised enzymes called lactonases led to an increase in bacterial species associated with good oral health. These results indicate that carefully chosen enzymes might be used to reshape dental plaque communities and help maintain a healthy balance of microbes.

Mikael Elias, Associate Professor in the College of Biological Sciences and senior author of the study, said: “Understanding how bacterial communities communicate and organize themselves may ultimately give us new tools to prevent periodontal disease – not by waging war on all oral bacteria, but by strategically maintaining a healthy microbial balance”. The team believes this strategy could eventually lead to therapies for other parts of the body, where imbalances in the microbiome are linked to illness and certain forms of cancer.

From: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251215084218.htm.