Role of socioeconomic factors and interkingdom crosstalk in the dental plaque microbiome in early childhood caries
Mohd Wasif Khan,
Vivianne Cruz de Jesus,
Betty-Anne Mittermuller,
Shaan Sareen,
Victor Lee,
Robert J. Schroth,
Pingzhao Hu,
Prashen Chelikani
Affiliations
Mohd Wasif Khan
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Vivianne Cruz de Jesus
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Betty-Anne Mittermuller
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Shaan Sareen
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Victor Lee
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Robert J. Schroth
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Pingzhao Hu
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Corresponding author
Prashen Chelikani
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Corresponding author
Summary: Early childhood caries (ECC) is influenced by microbial and host factors, including social, behavioral, and oral health. In this cross-sectional study, we analyze interkingdom dynamics in the dental plaque microbiome and its association with host variables. We use 16S rRNA and ITS1 amplicon sequencing on samples collected from preschool children and analyze questionnaire data to examine the social determinants of oral health. The results indicate a significant enrichment of Streptococcus mutans and Candida dubliniensis in ECC samples, in contrast to Neisseria oralis in caries-free children. Our interkingdom correlation analysis reveals that Candida dubliniensis is strongly correlated with both Neisseria bacilliformis and Prevotella veroralis in ECC. Additionally, ECC shows significant associations with host variables, including oral health status, age, place of residence, and mode of childbirth. This study provides empirical evidence associating the oral microbiome with socioeconomic and behavioral factors in relation to ECC, offering insights for developing targeted prevention strategies.
