# Understand biological factors underlying early childhood caries disparity from the oral microbiome in early infancy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2022 · $112,906

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Early childhood caries (ECC) disproportionately affects children from low-income households and
ethnic minority communities. Dysbiosis of oral microbiota, including enrichment of cariogenic bacteria and
yeast, increase the risk for ECC. Previous research indicated connections between in-utero and early-life
nutrition intake and gut microbiome development. Yet, the impact of in-utero and early-life nutrition intake on
maternal and children’s oral microbiome remains unclear. As an augmentation to the parent award
R01DE031025 Oral Microbiome in Early Infancy (OMEI), we propose this supplement OMEI + Nutrition. The
parent OMEI studies the early-life biological factors underlying ECC racial disparity via a valuable underserved
birth cohort. In the OMEI+ Nutrition supplement, we expand the factors to include perinatal nutritive (such as
dietary iron intake) and nonnutritive behavior (such as pica) to examine their potential relationships with oral
microbiomes during pregnancy and early life.
 Our central hypothesis is that mothers with nonnutritive eating behavior are associated with a distinct
oral microbial community, which influences oral microbiome development in early childhood. We propose the
following aims in the OMEI + Nutrition study. Aim 1: Assess the effect of nutritive and nonnutritive eating
behavior on the oral microbiome of pregnant women. Aim 2: Assess the impact of maternal nutritive and
nonnutritive eating behavior on infants' early-life (birth to 6 months) oral Candida colonization and yeast
infection. Aim 3 (Exploratory): assess microbial compositions of pica substances.
 The OMEI + Nutrition will be the first study that examines the relationship between nutritive
(such as dietary iron intake) and nonnutritive (such as pica) factors on perinatal oral microbiome
among underserved US pregnant women and their children. Data generated will strengthen the
understanding of children’s oral microbiome development and their association to ECC. Additional risk factors
revealed from this OMEI+ Nutrition would be used as targets for prenatal counselling, ECC early prediction and
prevention, specifically suitable for underserved women and children.
 This OMEI + Nutrition will be conducted by the diversity supplement applicant, Dr. Brenda Abu, a
Nutritionist-Researcher, who will add her strong nutrition and dietetics background to the already integrated
health disparities research team. Dr. Abu enthusiastically intends to develop her career in the interaction of
nutrition and oral health among the underserved population. This OMEI + Nutrition supplement will advance
her skills and expertise in oral health and oral microbiome research, which will build a solid foundation for a
future R01 application that assesses eating behavior and oral microbiome on maternal and children’s oral and
systemic health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10666930
- **Project number:** 3R01DE031025-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** STEVEN R. GILL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $112,906
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10666930

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10666930, Understand biological factors underlying early childhood caries disparity from the oral microbiome in early infancy (3R01DE031025-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10666930. Licensed CC0.

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