FIGURE 11.

The tongue microbiome and its implications in human health. The healthy human tongue-coating microbiome is dominated by the genera Streptococcus, Veillonella, Actinomyces, Neisseria, and Prevotella; it is dysbiosis being associated with many other systemic diseases. The onset of COVID19 due to SARS-CoV2 infection and its prolonged symptoms are associated with enriched Veillonella and Prevotella species in the tongue-coating microbiome. Tongue microbiome dysbiosis is associated with local and systemic diseases. Image created with BioRender.com, with permission.