A comparison of oral microbiome composition between highly trained competitive athletes and untrained controls

A comparison of oral microbiome composition between highly trained competitive athletes and untrained controls | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article A comparison of oral microbiome composition between highly trained competitive athletes and untrained controls Annabel Simpson, Bob T. Rosier, Javier Pons Tamarit, Fiona Henriquez, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6298163/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background The oral microbiome has a crucial role in nitric oxide (NO) production and contributes to oral and systemic health. This study compared oral microbiome composition and markers of NO production between highly trained competitive athletes and inactive controls. Materials and Methods Ten competitive athletes and untrained controls were recruited. Saliva, plasma, supragingival plaque and the tongue dorsum microbiome were sampled. The microbiome was examined using long-read 16S rRNA sequencing and ozone-based chemiluminescence used to measure nitrate (NO 3 - ) and nitrite (NO 2 - ) levels. Weekly training duration was recorded and aerobic fitness capacity (V̇O 2max ) assessed via maximal exercise testing. Results The beta-diversity of the tongue dorsum microbiome differed between groups (Adonis p= 0.046) and athletes had a higher relative abundance of NO 3 - -reducing Rothia mucilaginosa and unclassified Gemella species. No significant differences were detected in the supragingival plaque. Positive correlations were detected between R. mucilaginosa and unclassified Gemella species and aerobic fitness. Athletes had higher levels of salivary NO 3 - ( p =0.003) and NO 2 - ( p= 0.03) . Conclusions Exercise training may impact the tongue dorsum microbiome more than supragingival plaque, with the relative abundance of specific health-assocaited bacteria higher in the tongue dorsum microbiome of athletes. Further research is needed to explore mechanistic links between the oral microbiome, exercise, and human health. Biological sciences/Microbiology/Communities/Microbiome Health sciences/Diseases/Dental diseases Health sciences/Diseases/Oral diseases Oral microbiome 16s rRNA Exercise Nitrate-reduction Nitric Oxide Dental disease Physical Activity Nitrite-production Nitrate Exercise Training Full Text Additional Declarations Competing interest reported. A.M. and B.T. Rosier are coinventors in a pending patent application owned by the FISABIO Institute, which protects the use of NO3- as a prebiotic and certain NO3--reducing bacteria as probiotics. The remaining authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files 22.01.25SupplementaryDatasheetCompetitiveathletesanduntrainedcontrols.xlsx 22.01.25SupplementaryFile1CompetitiveAthletesandUntrainedControls.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 31 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 19 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 13 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 07 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 05 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 22 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 22 Apr, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6298163","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":453359822,"identity":"3e67eb9d-22bf-4a29-939b-640336b6ea7c","order_by":0,"name":"Annabel Simpson","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of the West of Scotland","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Annabel","middleName":"","lastName":"Simpson","suffix":""},{"id":453359823,"identity":"918d52c2-c9e9-43ce-ae9a-35299b515fca","order_by":1,"name":"Bob T. 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The remaining authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"A comparison of oral microbiome composition between highly trained competitive athletes and untrained controls","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Oral microbiome, 16s rRNA, Exercise, Nitrate-reduction, Nitric Oxide, Dental disease, Physical Activity, Nitrite-production, Nitrate, Exercise Training","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6298163/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6298163/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe oral microbiome has a crucial role in nitric oxide (NO) production and contributes to oral and systemic health. This study compared oral microbiome composition and markers of NO production between highly trained competitive athletes and inactive controls.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials and Methods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTen competitive athletes and untrained controls were recruited. Saliva, plasma, supragingival plaque and the tongue dorsum microbiome were sampled. The microbiome was examined using long-read 16S rRNA sequencing and ozone-based chemiluminescence used to measure nitrate (NO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e-\u003c/sup\u003e) and nitrite (NO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e-\u003c/sup\u003e) levels.\u003csup\u003e \u003c/sup\u003eWeekly training duration was recorded and aerobic fitness capacity (V̇O\u003csub\u003e2max\u003c/sub\u003e) assessed via maximal exercise testing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe beta-diversity of the tongue dorsum microbiome differed between groups (Adonis \u003cem\u003ep=\u003c/em\u003e0.046) and athletes had a higher relative abundance of NO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e-\u003c/sup\u003e-reducing\u003cem\u003e Rothia mucilaginosa \u003c/em\u003eand unclassified \u003cem\u003eGemella\u003c/em\u003e species. No significant differences were detected in the supragingival plaque. Positive correlations were detected between \u003cem\u003eR. mucilaginosa \u003c/em\u003eand unclassified \u003cem\u003eGemella \u003c/em\u003especies and aerobic fitness. Athletes had higher levels of salivary NO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e-\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e=0.003) and NO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e-\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003ep=\u003c/em\u003e0.03)\u003cdel\u003e \u003c/del\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExercise training may impact the tongue dorsum microbiome more than supragingival plaque, with the relative abundance of specific health-assocaited bacteria higher in the tongue dorsum microbiome of athletes. Further research is needed to explore mechanistic links between the oral microbiome, exercise, and human health.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"A comparison of oral microbiome composition between highly trained competitive athletes and untrained controls","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-05-12 19:46:17","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6298163/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-07-31T06:58:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-19T16:34:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"20772165835648148405084305354912244237","date":"2025-06-19T16:10:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-13T09:43:30+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"12424576949661966069804914580964848876","date":"2025-05-12T14:50:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-05-07T08:26:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-05T10:01:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-04-22T16:30:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-04-22T16:29:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"7f59a332-f12f-422d-b88b-3f8006441d06","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 12th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":48213158,"name":"Biological sciences/Microbiology/Communities/Microbiome"},{"id":48213159,"name":"Health sciences/Diseases/Dental diseases"},{"id":48213160,"name":"Health sciences/Diseases/Oral diseases"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-09-01T15:59:35+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6298163","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16835-3","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2025-08-28 15:56:55","publishedOnDateReadable":"August 28th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-05-12 19:46:17","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-025-16835-3","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16835-3","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6298163","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6298163","identity":"rs-6298163","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}