Role of Oral Microbiota Biofilms in Recurrent Tonsillitis and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children.

Our results indicate that SDB and RT tonsils have distinct histopathological signatures. In situ tonsillar microbiota composition and bacterial load did not differ between SDB and RT groups. In vitro assays showed that SDB tonsils exhibit increases in both multi-species biofilm mass and bacterial adhesion/invasion to epithelial surfaces. These results also suggest that SDB bacterial biofilms lead to greater inflammation of the tonsils, confirmed by the elevated levels of FRLH and increased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. This study sheds light on the role pathobionts released from dysbiotic oral microbiota biofilms in the development of tonsillitis.