Association between the microbiomes of tonsil and saliva samples isolated from pediatric patients subjected to tonsillectomy for the treatment of tonsillar hyperplasia

Oral microbes have the capacity to spread throughout the gastrointestinal system and are strongly associated with multiple diseases. Given that tonsils are located between the oral cavity and the laryngopharynx at the gateway of the alimentary and respiratory tracts, tonsillar tissue may also be affected by microbiota from both the oral cavity (saliva) and the alimentary tract. Here, we analyzed the distribution and association of the microbial communities in the saliva and tonsils of Korean children subjected to tonsillectomy because of tonsil hyperplasia ( n = 29). The microbiome profiles of saliva and tonsils were established via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on the alpha diversity indices, the microbial communities of the two groups showed high similarities. According to Spearman’s ranking correlation analysis, the distribution of Treponema , the causative bacterium of periodontitis, in saliva and tonsils was found to have a significant positive correlation. Two representative microbes, Prevotella in saliva and Alloprevotella in tonsils, were negatively correlated, while Treponema 2 showed a strong positive correlation between saliva and tonsils. Taken together, strong similarities in the microbial communities of the tonsils and saliva are evident in terms of diversity and composition. The saliva microbiome is expected to significantly affect the tonsil microbiome. Furthermore, we suggest that our study creates an opportunity for tonsillar microbiome research to facilitate the development of novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies. Oral microbes: The populations of tonsils and saliva Analysing the microbes on tonsils and in saliva from the mouths of children in South Korea provides comparisons of the microbial populations in these distinct but nearby regions, offering possible guidance for developing new therapies for various oral diseases. Researchers in South Korea led by Yoon Shin Park at Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, and Jae Won Chang at Chungnam National University, Daejeon, examined surgically removed tonsils from 29 patients, together with samples of the patients’ saliva. They identified many specific microbe types, finding broad similarities between the populations of an individual’s tonsils and saliva. They also identified positive and negative correlations between the presence of specific microbes in the two populations. The results could guide future treatment choices, including the use of microbes to treat disease.