Household environment, not genetics, shapes salivary microbes.

Household environment, not genetics, shapes salivary microbes.The mix of microorganisms that inhabit a person's saliva are largely determined by the human host's household, new research shows. The study shows that early environmental influences play a far larger role than human genetics in shaping the salivary microbiome--the group of organisms that play a crucial role in oral and overall health. Researchers in the United Kingdom have discovered that the mix of microorganisms that inhabit a person's saliva are largely determined by the human host's household. The research team wanted to know how the salivary microbiome gets established and which factors are most responsible for the mix of bacteria found there. This study shows that environments shared during upbringing play a major role in determining what community of bacteria gets established.