How TM7 (Saccharibacteria) and their partner bacteria affect gum disease and inflammation
Official title: Impact of Saccharibacteria and their bacterial hosts in Periodontal and Inflammatory Diseases
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11250991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether tiny TM7 bacteria and the Actinomyces they attach to change how gum disease and inflammation happen in people with periodontitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Somerville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $466,098 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE031274-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11250991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with periodontitis or chronic gum inflammation, and possibly healthy volunteers for comparison or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
People without gum disease or those seeking immediate dental treatment are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from this basic and preclinical research.
What this research studies
This work looks at microbes from the mouth, focusing on ultra-small Saccharibacteria (TM7) and the larger bacteria they live on (Actinomyces). Scientists are growing these microbes in the lab, using DNA sequencing to see who is present in diseased versus healthy mouths, and testing effects in mouse models to watch how inflammation and gum damage develop. The team studies how TM7–host pairs trigger immune responses, including changes in neutrophils and other inflammation pathways. Findings aim to link specific microbial interactions to changes in gum health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new microbial targets or strategies to prevent or reduce gum inflammation and periodontitis.
How similar studies have gone: This is a relatively new area: oral TM7 bacteria were only recently cultivated and early animal-model work suggests they can alter inflammation, but human clinical benefits are not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
Somerville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bor, Batbileg — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bor, Batbileg
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.