# The Oral Microbiome in Type 1 Diabetes and Sub-Clinical Cardiovascular Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2020 · $574,284

## Abstract

The oral microbiome is an important component of systemic health. Many oral bacterial species are associated
with oral, as well as systemic diseases. Periodontal disease (PD) is a common condition characterized by a
chronic inflammatory response to certain types of bacteria that destroys the supporting structures of the teeth.
PD has been associated with other systemic diseases, particularly diabetes. Adults with diabetes are at higher
risk of PD and, in turn, PD disease exacerbates glycemic control and diabetic complications. Both periodontal
disease and diabetes have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous work
using the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) cohort at the University of Colorado
demonstrated that self-reported PD duration was significantly associated with progression of coronary artery
calcification in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but not in subjects without diabetes. These results
suggest that the simultaneous presence of PD and T1D may accelerate CVD processes. The
central hypothesis of this project is that oral pathogens are significantly associated with both T1D and
subclinical CVD and act to modify the association between these diseases. As such, the objective of this project
is to characterize the subgingival microbiome in T1D and to investigate longitudinal relationships between
the subgingival microbiome, inflammation, T1D, and subclinical CVD. The long-term goal is to elucidate the
biological mechanisms that are involved in the relationships between oral and systemic health. The rationale
for this project is that increasing understanding of these relationships and mechanisms could lead to therapies
targeted at the oral cavity that would have systemic benefits. We will test our central hypothesis with three
specific aims: 1) Identify taxonomic and functional profiles of the subgingival microbiome associated with T1D
and PD; 2) Determine the associations between the subgingival microbiome and subclinical CVD in those with
and without T1D; 3) Determine whether inflammation acts as a mediator between the subgingival microbiome
and subclinical CVD. We will utilize passive drool samples and subgingival plaque collected from CACTI
participants to perform 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of the subgingival microbiome and to measure salivary
inflammatory cytokines. The approach is innovative because we are able to comprehensively examine
correlates, mediators, and diabetes-specific effects of the relationship between the subgingival microbiome and
subclinical CVD. Despite studies showing associations between PD, T1D, and CVD, no work to date has
described the subginigval microbiome associated with T1D or has focused on the relationships between these
three diseases at the level of the subgingival microbiome. This research is significant because these diseases
afflict a large proportion of the population and increased understanding could lead to improved therapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9827980
- **Project number:** 5R01DE026480-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Christine Alman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $574,284
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-12 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9827980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9827980, The Oral Microbiome in Type 1 Diabetes and Sub-Clinical Cardiovascular Disease (5R01DE026480-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9827980. Licensed CC0.

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