Altered Surrogate Markers of Inflammation in Perinatal HIV-Exposed Children with Caries.

Objective: Dental caries is associated with immunologic response, yet its association with hematologic parameters and inflammatory markers is unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between some surrogate markers of inflammation and dental caries in the context of perinatal exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 2 groups of children aged 4 to 11 y who were (1) HIV exposed but uninfected (HEU) and (2) HIV unexposed/uninfected (HUU) and recruited from HIV pediatric and child outpatient clinics, respectively, at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.

HIV Infection and Exposure Increases Cariogenic Taxa, Reduces Taxonomic Turnover, and Homogenizes Spatial Differentiation for the Supragingival Microbiome.

Background: The oral microbiome comprises distinct microbial communities that colonize diverse ecological niches across the oral cavity, the composition of which are influenced by nutrient and substrate availability, host genetics, diet, behavior, age, and other diverse host and environmental factors. Unlike other densely populated human-associated microbial ecosystems (e.g.

Impact of perinatal HIV exposure and infection on salivary properties among Nigerian children.

Background: There is growing evidence that perinatal HIV infection and exposure affect salivary pH and flow rate in children in most parts of the world, but not against the background of caries and the African demographic. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of HIV infection as well as exposure on salivary properties and their influence upon the dental caries experience among school-aged children in Nigeria.

Method: This cross-sectional study assessed the salivary flow rates and salivary pH of HIV infected and exposed school-aged (4-11) children receiving care at a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Supragingival mycobiome of HIV-exposed-but-uninfected children reflects a stronger correlation with caries-free-associated taxa compared to HIV-infected or uninfected children.

Globally, caries is among the most frequent chronic childhood disease, and the fungal component of the microbial community responsible is poorly studied despite evidence that fungi contribute to increased acid production exacerbating enamel demineralization. HIV infection is another global health crisis. Perinatal HIV exposure with infection are caries risk factors; however, the caries experience in the context of perinatal HIV exposure without infection is less clear.