Date of Completion
Fall 12-20-2023
Thesis Advisor(s)
Patricia Rossi; Michael O'Neill
Honors Major
Molecular and Cell Biology
Abstract
The oral cavity and the gut are the two largest and most diverse microbiomes in the human body. While it may be obvious that bacteria found in the mouth can lead to oral diseases, it is also proven that the oral microbiome is directly linked to the gut microbiome. Oral bacteria has the capability to translocate itself to the gut and affect the immune defense. A dysbiotic gut microbiome has many negative implications on the body, including pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancer. This literature review will specifically focus on colorectal cancer, which is the third most common cancer in the world. Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon and rectum that results in bloody bowel movements, constipation, and abdominal discomfort. Only recently have researchers been able to discover the specific microorganisms from the oral microbiome that contribute to colorectal cancer progression. This literature review has pinpointed Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Porhpyromonas gingivalis, and Parvimonas micra as the major contributors to the disease and will discuss their specific mechanisms of action.
Recommended Citation
Ko, Thomas, "The Role of Oral Microbiota in the Causation of Colorectal Cancer Thomas Ko" (2023). Honors Scholar Theses. 1039.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/srhonors_theses/1039