Kaden Jordan, Dixie State University
Aphthous stomatitis, more commonly known as canker sores, are painful ulcers that form in the epithelial tissues the mouth. Those affected by these sores typically develop a canker multiple times per year, with the sores lasting a duration ranging between a few days to a few weeks. Approximately 40% of college age adults report experiencing canker sores at least 3-6 times within a one-year period. For how prominent the sores can be, relatively little is known about what causes canker sores and why some people are affected, and others are not. Although the cause of canker sores is unknown, evidence is beginning to suggest that bacteria within the oral cavity could play a role in forming canker sores. The DEFB1 gene is an antimicrobial peptide. Within humans, one DEFB1 allele has been shown to correlate with increased bacterial infections including increases in cavities. This study seeks to determine if carriers of the affected DEFB1 allele are at an increased risk for canker sores. We genotyped subjects unaffected by canker sores for the DEFB1 gene, and compared them to subjects who report as regularly affected by canker sores in order to determine is the different DEFB1 alleles correlate to canker sore infection rates.