The human body hosts trillions of microorganisms throughout many diverse habitats with different physico-chemical characteristics. Among them, the oral cavity and the gut harbour some of the most dense and diverse microbial communities. Although these two sites are physiologically distinct, they are directly connected and can influence each other in several ways. For example, oral microorganisms can reach and colonize the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the context of gut dysbiosis. However, the mechanisms of colonization and the role that the oral microbiome plays in causing or exacerbating diseases in other organs have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we describe recent advances in our understanding of how the oral and intestinal microbiota interplay in relation to their impact on human health and disease.

人体拥有数万亿微生物，分布在许多不同的栖息地，具有不同的物理化学特性。其中，口腔和肠道拥有一些最密集和多样化的微生物群落。尽管这两个位点在生理上是不同的，但它们是直接相连的，并且可以通过多种方式相互影响。例如，口腔微生物可以到达胃肠道并定居，特别是在肠道菌群失调的情况下。然而，定植机制以及口腔微生物组在引起或加剧其他器官疾病中所起的作用尚未完全阐明。在这里，我们描述了我们对口腔和肠道微生物群如何相互作用及其对人类健康和疾病的影响的理解的最新进展。