Multiomics analysis reveals the genetic and metabolic characteristics associated with the low prevalence of dental caries.

Background: Despite poor oral hygiene, the Baiku Yao (BKY) ethnic group in China presents a low prevalence of dental caries, which may be related to genetic susceptibility. Due to strict intra-ethnic marriage rule, this ethnic has an advantage in studying the interaction between genetic factors and other regulatory factors related to dental caries.

Methods: Peripheral blood from a caries-free adult male was used for whole genome sequencing, and the BKY assembled genome was compared to the Han Chinese genome. Oral saliva samples were collected from 51 subjects for metabolomic and metagenomic analysis. Multiomics data were integrated for combined analysis using bioinformatics approaches.

Results: Comparative genomic analysis revealed the presence of structural variations in several genes associated with dental caries. Metabolomic and metagenomic sequencing demonstrated the caries-free group had significantly higher concentration of antimicrobials and higher abundance of core oral health-related microbiota. The functional analysis indicated that cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance and the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway were enriched in the caries-free group.

Conclusions: Our study provided new insights into the specific regulatory mechanisms that contribute to the low prevalence of dental caries in the specific population and may provide new evidence for the genetic diagnosis and control of dental caries.