Common variants of the FUT2 gene in Filipinos and South Asians and a rarer variant associated with recurrent middle ear infections in European-American children.
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‘FUT2 gene modifies the microbiome of the middle ear in a way that makes it more susceptible to infection by specific bacteria.’
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The FUT2 gene is expressed in the salivary gland, colon and lungs but its expression in the middle ear has not been described previously. 
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Santos-Cortez and her colleagues discovered the role the gene played in middle ear infections or otitis media by initially examining DNA samples from 609 multi-ethnic families with the condition.
The study was published online today in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
The researchers found common variants of the gene in Filipinos and South Asians and a rarer variant associated with recurrent middle ear infections in European-American children. The most common variant occurs in 30-50% of individuals in almost all population groups except East Asians.
"A number of things predispose people to getting these infections including a lack of vaccinations, lack of breastfeeding and being around smoking caregivers," said Santos-Cortez, who is also with the Center for Children's Surgery at Children's Hospital Colorado. "But even in the best case scenario, recurrent or chronic middle ear infections still happen in some kids, which may be due to genetic predisposition."
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The finding could eventually lead to new ways of determining who is likely to get the infection. The study confirmed expression of FUT2 in the middle ear which is spiked within 24 hours of bacterial infection. But the FUT2 genetic variants decrease presentation of A antigen used by bacteria to gain access to the middle ear lining.
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"The frequency of population-specific FUT2 variants makes this gene a potential target for preventative screening and future treatments for otitis media, including modulation of the middle ear microbiome," the study said.
Source-Eurekalert