The Impact of Human Salivary Amylase Gene Copy Number and Starch on Oral Biofilms.

ABSTRACT: The copy number (CN) variant AMY1 encodes the salivary amylase enzyme which promotes starch digestion. Although this gene has been associated with dental caries and periodontal disease susceptibility, the impact of the interaction between AMY1 CN and starch on oral biofilms is unclear. We explored how oral microbiota communities shaped by AMY1 CN respond to starch by employing an in vitro model of biofilm formation. We cultured biofilms using saliva samples from 31 donors with a range of AMY1 CNs (between 2 and 20 copies) and self-reported gum disease states; we used media with and without starch. Many of the most prevalent genera in saliva were also prevalent in the derived biofilms. The presence of starch in the media was associated with lower biofilm alpha di

SUBMITTER: Superdock DK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11858026 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature