The Bacteria in Our Mouths (IMAGE)

University of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center

The Bacteria in Our Mouths

Caption

Hundreds of different bacteria live in our mouths, all playing different roles in a complex microbial ecosystem. Some are pathogens and contribute to diseases such as periodontitis, and some are commensals, living with us in relative harmony. The interactions between all these species affect our overall health. In this confocal micrograph, a pathogen (red) is found in close association with a commensal (green) to facilitate feeding on waste products produced by the commensal.

Credit

Keith Turner

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