Microbial communities are influenced by environmental factors including host genetics. We investigated the relationship between host bitter taste receptor genotype hTAS2R38 and oral microbiota, together with the influence of geographical location. hTAS2R38 polymorphisms and 16S bacterial gene sequencing from oral samples were analyzed from a total of 45 healthy volunteers from different geographical locations. Genetic variation in the bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 reflected in the microbial composition of oral mucosa in Finnish and Spanish subjects. Multivariate analysis showed significant differences in the microbial composition between country and also dependent on taste genotype. Oral microbiota was shown to be more stable to the geographical location impact among AVI-homozygotes than PAV-homozygotes or heterozygotes (PAV/AVI). Geographical location and genetic variation in the hTAS2R38 taste receptor impact oral mucosa microbial composition. These findings provide an advance in the knowledge regarding the interactions between taste receptor genes and oral microbiota. This study suggests the role of host-microbiota interactions on the food taste perception in food choices, nutrition, and eating behavior.

中文翻译：

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TAS2R38味觉受体的遗传变异助长了北欧和南欧地区的口腔微生物群：一项试点研究

微生物群落受包括宿主遗传学在内的环境因素的影响。我们调查了宿主苦味觉受体基因型hTAS2R38与口腔微生物群之间的关系，以及地理位置的影响。从总共45名来自不同地理位置的健康志愿者中分析了口腔样品中的hTAS2R38多态性和16S细菌基因序列。苦味受体TAS2R38的遗传变异反映在芬兰和西班牙受试者口腔粘膜的微生物组成中。多变量分析表明，不同国家之间的微生物组成存在显着差异，并且还取决于口味基因型。口服微生物群对AVI纯合子的地理位置影响比PAV纯合子或杂合子（PAV / AVI）更稳定。hTAS2R38味觉受体的地理位置和遗传变异影响口腔粘膜微生物组成。这些发现提供了关于味觉受体基因与口腔微生物群之间相互作用的知识的进步。这项研究表明宿主菌群相互作用对食物选择，营养和饮食行为中食物味觉的作用。