How a mouth bacterium might fuel gum disease and heart risk
Official title: Contribution of microbially produced methylglyoxal and glycation endproducts to periodontal inflammation and dysbiosis
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11564245 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small study will look at how a bacterium in the mouth that makes a reactive chemical (methylglyoxal) could drive gum inflammation and changes in the mouth’s bacteria, possibly linking to heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2026 |
| Project end | July 20, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $408,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R56DE035488-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11564245 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with periodontal disease or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, who may later benefit from targeted therapies or preventive strategies.
✕Less likely to help
People without gum disease or cardiovascular risk factors may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project examines how Tannerella forsythia, a mouth bacterium, produces methylglyoxal and how it may cause gum inflammation and disrupt the normal mouth microbiome. Researchers will explore how the methylglyoxal modifies proteins to form advanced glycations that activate inflammatory pathways. They will study effects on human immune cells and gingival fibroblasts to understand inflammation and tissue damage. The work builds on prior findings that higher methylglyoxal relates to worse periodontal disease and aims to clarify connections to cardiovascular risk. The study uses lab experiments and analyses of bacterial products to illuminate potential mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could clarify a biological link between periodontal disease and heart disease and highlight new targets for prevention or treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown associations between methylglyoxal, periodontal inflammation, and inflammatory responses, supporting a mechanistic exploration such as this.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Settem, Rajendra Prasad — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Settem, Rajendra Prasad
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.