The National Institutes of Health via the University of Kentucky awarded Azeez Butali, professor in the Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology, and Medicine, and Erliang Zeng, associate professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, a grant to identify genome-wide genetic susceptibility variants around the world.

This multi-center study draws upon experts from around the world to comprehensively investigate the underlying causes of “aggressive periodontitis,” or Grade C, molar-incisor pattern periodontitis. This form of periodontitis is less common than what generally affects older adults, but this “aggressive” variant affects otherwise healthy, young individuals with rapid progression and delay diagnosis often resulting in loss of teeth.

This condition is often found among close relatives, and most often among those of African descent. This suggests a genetic basis for the condition, and several studies have examined the genetic basis, but not with large cohorts of those affected by the condition.

This study is systemically and comprehensively determining the genetic, host response, and microbial causes of the disease for populations affected across the world.   

Butali is one of the world’s foremost experts on genetic research among African populations. He and Zeng will collect DNA from saliva of those affected with the condition, and conduct whole exome sequencing to determine variants of the disease and genes that might be causally related to aggressive periodontitis.

This research will lay the foundation for early diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis, and potentially allow for the development of targeted and personalized therapies for affected families. 

The research will draw from populations of those affected in seven countries, including the US, Brazil, the UK, Spain, Germany, Ghana, and Nigeria. Butali is the principal investigator at Iowa, and Zeng is his co-investigator. The principal investigator for the overall project is Luciana Shaddox at the University of Kentucky.