Phascolarctobacterium: A Microbial Accelerant For Adult Orthodontic Treatment

This study demonstrates that gut microbiota, particularly Phascolarctobacterium, significantly enhances orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in adults, offering a novel and cost-effective approach to improve treatment efficiency and patient outcomes. Comparative 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of gut microbiota was performed in young (3-month-old) and adult (8-month-old) male Sprague-Dawley rats, revealing significantly higher abundance of Phascolarctobacterium in young rats. The bacterium was then administered via oral gavage to adult orthodontic model rats. Multi-omics approaches including metagenomics, targeted metabolomics, and transcriptomics were employed to investigate amino acid metabolism, glutamine levels, and alveolar bone remodeling mechanisms.(Ethics Committee Approved) Phascolarctobacterium administration significantly accelerated OTM in adult rats (25% increase), accompanied by elevated serum and intestinal amino acid synthesis. Mechanistic studies revealed that Phascolarctobacterium promotes glutamine synthesis, enhances oxidative phosphorylation in alveolar bone, and ultimately activates osteoclast function, thereby accelerating tooth movement. This study elucidates the "gut-bone axis" mechanism by which Phascolarctobacterium modulates glutamine metabolism to enhance OTM, providing a scientifically grounded and clinically translatable strategy to optimize adult orthodontic treatment.