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ABSTRACT

Background: Genetic variation in taste receptor genes has been linked to caries, but few studies have evaluated the association between taste gene variations and S. mutans. This study aimed to examine genetic variations related to taste preferences and their association with the presence or absence of S. mutans in saliva.

Material and methods: Saliva samples from 187 mothers in the Northpop study were genotyped for 122 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using MassARRAY at the Karolinska University Hospital. S. mutans infection was assessed via targeted PCR on saliva DNA, with results confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

Results: S. mutans was detected in 50% of participants. After screening the 122 SNPs, three SNPs were significantly associated with S. mutans infection after adjusting for multiple testing. These SNPs were located in two genes, TAS1R2 and FTO. For the TAS1R2 rs3935570 SNP, the heterozygous G/T allele (p=0.001) was associated with S. mutans. For the FTO gene, the minor allele A in SNPs rs8050136 (C/A) and rs9939609 (T/A) was associated with S. mutans positivity (p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study identified three SNPs significantly associated with the presence of Streptococcus mutans in saliva samples from 187 mothers. The heterozygous G/T allele in TAS1R2 and the minor allele A in two FTO SNPs were linked to S. mutans infection. These findings suggest that genetic variations related to taste preferences may influence the oral environment and S. mutans prevalence, warranting further research.