What the study found
Human genetic variation and bacterial genetic variation both shaped variation in the oral microbiome, the community of microbes in the mouth. The study also found links between some of these genetic variants and oral health outcomes, including dentures use.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that their findings nominate numerous host-microbial interactions that contribute to tooth decay. They also suggest that salivary amylase abundance may affect health by influencing the oral microbiome.
What the researchers tested
The researchers characterized oral microbiomes in 12,519 people by re-analyzing whole-genome sequencing reads from previously sequenced saliva-derived DNA. They tested human genetic variants for association with oral microbiome composition, examined bacterial genetic variation, and checked selected associations with dentures use in UK Biobank.
What worked and what didn't
Human genetic variation at 11 loci, including 10 new loci, was associated with oral microbiome composition. The strongest association involved the FUT2 W154X loss-of-function variant, which was linked to the abundances of 58 bacterial species, and common copy number variation of AMY1 was associated with oral microbiome composition and dentures use but not with body mass index.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed study limitations. The denture and body mass index results come from the associations reported in the abstract, so the summary is limited to those stated findings.
Key points
- The study found that human genetic variation at 11 loci was associated with oral microbiome composition.
- The strongest reported association was with the FUT2 W154X loss-of-function variant, linked to 58 bacterial species.
- Common copy number variation of AMY1 was associated with oral microbiome composition and dentures use, but not with body mass index.
- The same 11 host genetic variants also associated with variation in gene dosages in 68 regions of bacterial genomes.
- The authors conclude that these findings nominate host-microbial interactions that contribute to tooth decay.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Human and bacterial genetics shape oral microbiome variation
- Authors:
- Nolan Kamitaki, Robert E. Handsaker, Margaux L. A. Hujoel, Ronen E. Mukamel, Christina L. Usher, Steven A. McCarroll, Po-Ru Loh
- Institutions:
- Broad Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, University of California, Los Angeles, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-28
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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