How tiny peptides from mouth bacteria shape your oral health
Official title: Determining the mechanism and impact of streptococcal RaS-RiPPs on the human oral microbiome
Funded at Iowa State University · NIH-11371183 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how special molecules made by Streptococcus bacteria in the mouth affect the tiny ecosystem in your mouth and its link to problems like cavities and serious infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ames, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | August 15, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DE032311-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371183 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People without dental disease or adults with dental concerns may indirectly benefit as future therapies or diagnostics emerge from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Participants in this grant are not yet recruited; results will inform future patient-focused options rather than provide a current treatment.
What this research studies
Researchers at Iowa State University will study how RaS-RiPPs, a family of small molecules made by Streptococcus bacteria, work to influence the balance of bacteria in the mouth. They will focus on the tryglysin peptide from Streptococcus mutans and examine how it changes other oral bacteria and the behavior of the producer bacteria itself. The project will also broaden to look at other RaS-RiPPs produced by Streptococci to understand their biological roles in health and disease. This work may help reveal new targets to keep the mouth microbiome healthy and prevent disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent dental caries and other mouth-related infections by modulating harmful bacterial interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown RaS-RiPPs can affect bacterial behavior, supporting potential translation to human health.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa State University
Ames, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rued, Britta — Iowa State University
- Study coordinator: Rued, Britta
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.