The oral phageome in human health, disease, and clinical implications

The oral cavity harbors a complex and abundant viral community, collectively known as the oral virome, which is predominantly composed of bacteriophages. The oral phageome is highly heterogeneous across human populations and correlated with factors such as geography, ethnicity, lifestyle, and urbanization. This phageome is crucial for maintaining oral microbial homeostasis and is strongly associated with various oral diseases. Emerging studies greatly highlight the therapeutic promise of bacteriophages, which can not only be used to treat infectious diseases but to modulate the microbiota. However, their specific functions and applications within the oral cavity remain poorly explored. Here, we review relevant literature on the oral phageome, and the intricate interactions among phages, bacteria, and the human host underlying health and diseases. We shed light on emerging avenues of phage-based therapies and examined the underlying obstacles. Our review suggests that future efforts should prioritize mechanistic studies and therapeutic development to harness this enigmatic component of the human oral microbiome.