“The amazing thing about this small RNA,” said Dr. Xuesong He, a Forsyth Senior Member of Staff who led the study, “is that it is very potent and very targeted. It doesn’t kill all the bacteria, good and bad. It only inhibits Fusobacteria. The ability to target a specific pathogen is what makes the molecule a promising therapeutic agent.”
The oral microbiome, which is made up of communities of microbes, plays an important role in human health and disease. Disease occurs when the balance between the bacteria and host is upset. Certain pathogenic bacteria might start to increase and cause problems.
What Are the Effects of Microbes in the Mouth on Colorectal Cancer?
How does a microbe in the mouth affect other parts of our body? “In a healthy mouth with good hygiene,” explained Dr. Pu-Ting Dong, a Forsyth postdoctoral fellow and the co-first author of this study, “fusobacteria are kept in check. When the homeostasis of the mouth is disrupted by bad oral hygiene or weakened host immunity, it can create the perfect conditions for Fusobacteria to grow out of control.”
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Often this overgrowth of Fusobacteria causes periodontal disease. However, it can also lead to more fatal diseases, such as colorectal cancer. If someone brushes and flosses irregularly and gets microbleeds, the bacteria can enter and travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the colon.
As part of the study, Dr. He’s group teamed up with Dr. Jiahe Li (the co-corresponding author of this article) from Northeastern University and chemically modified the small RNA to be even more effective at inhibiting and preventing fusobacterial overgrowth. An international patent (PCT/US21/19890) has been filed for these modified Fusobacterium-targeting small RNAs by the Forsyth Institute and Northeastern University.
The researchers hope that their continued work in this field will lead to effective preventative therapeutics for Fusobacteria-related systemic diseases.
Other collaborators on the study included Drs. Wenyuan Shi and Lujia Cen from the Forsyth Institute; Dr. Mengdi Yang from Northeastern University.
Source: Eurekalert
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