Association Between Oral Microbiota and Close-Range Proximity in a Primary School

The microbiota is the ensemble of microorganisms inhabiting the human body and it deeply influences human health and well-being. Recent studies showed its interplay with social behavior, suggesting that part of the microbiota might be socially transmissible. In this work, we investigate the association between close-range proximity and the oral microbiota composition in a group of children attending primary school. Unlike most related studies, our cohort comprises non-cohabiting individuals, and we use high-resolution proximity sensors to objectively quantify close-range proximity. Our analysis shows that longer time spent in proximity between pairs of children correlates with a higher similarity between their oral microbiota composition. Building on previous studies on cohabiting individuals, our findings suggest that social contacts beyond the closest social circle may also shape oral microbiota composition, although longitudinal studies are needed to test this hypothesis.