Toothbrush microbiomes feature a meeting ground for human oral and environmental microbiota.
Ryan A BlausteinLisa-Marie MichelitschAdam J GlaweHansung LeeStefanie HuttelmaierNancy HellgethSarah Ben MaamarErica M HartmannPublished in: Microbiome (2021)
Selective pressures in the built environment may shape the dynamic mixture of human (primarily oral-associated) and environmental microbiota that encounter each other on toothbrushes. Harboring a microbial diversity and resistome distinct from human-associated counterparts suggests toothbrushes could potentially serve as a reservoir that may enable the transfer of ARGs. Video abstract.