23AAP-NCE2: Beneath the Mask: Unraveling the Hidden Impact of COVID-19 on Oral Ecosystem

Speaker: Sukirth M. Ganesan

Since the first proof of COVID-19 viral carriage in saliva was established in a small patient population, the potential intricate roles of saliva in transmission, pathogenicity, and severity of the infection are being actively studied. The viral load in the oral cavity has been correlated with clinical symptoms including taste alterations have been demonstrated. Our group is focused on identifying the molecular mechanisms behind these clinical correlations in the oral environment of patients with COVID-19.

Educational Objectives:
• Elucidate the compositional differences in the oral microbiome in patients with COVID-19
• Explain the levels of various chemokines, cytokines, and metabolites in the oral environment of patients with COVID-19
• Discuss the significant correlations in the host-microbial biomarkers in the oral environment in the patients with COVID-19 compared to other flu-like symptoms