Integrative analysis of taste genetics and the dental plaque microbiome in early childhood caries

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease mainly caused by the oral microbiome; however, it is also influenced by host genetics and environmental factors. This study investigates the interplay between genetic variants in taste-related genes and the microbiome in ECC. Using a case-control design involving 538 children, we obtained dental plaque microbiome profiles and genetic variants across 55 candidate genes. Including the socioeconomic factor index (SEFI) as one of the confounders, we find a significant association of three taste-gene variants with ECC and microbial diversity. However, there are no specific associations between the variants and cariogenic species. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that Streptococcus mutans is a partial mediator between these genetic variants and ECC outcomes. A combined machine learning model identifies Streptococcus mutans, rural-urban status, a bitter taste receptor variant, Candida dubliniensis, and SEFI as the top ECC-associated factors. Our findings underscore the need for multiomics approaches in ECC risk assessment.