Metagenomic Analysis of Bacterial Microflora in Dental and Atherosclerotic Plaques of Patients With Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis.

These results suggest that oral bacteria are directly or indirectly involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. More extensive studies of oral commensal bacteria detected in extra-oral lesions are warranted to comprehensively investigate the role of oral bacteria in the pathogenesis of systemic diseases.