How two mouth bacteria join forces to worsen adult gum disease
Official title: Pathogen Synergy and Immune Subversion in Periodontal Disease
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11342135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing if stopping cooperation between two common mouth bacteria can lower harmful inflammation in adults with gum disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $568,759 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DE035865-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11342135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with periodontitis or gum abscesses who can provide oral and blood samples and attend clinic visits may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those without bacterial-driven gum disease, or those unable to attend in-person clinic visits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
I want to know how two common mouth bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Campylobacter rectus, team up to drive gum inflammation and tissue damage. The team will study bacterial metabolism and immune responses using lab models and by analyzing oral and blood samples from adults with periodontitis. They will look at how one bacterium supplies food and access to chemical 'electron acceptors' while the other avoids immune killing, keeping inflammation going. The goal is to find ways to break that cooperation and reduce harm without killing helpful mouth microbes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted treatments that reduce gum inflammation and prevent tooth loss while preserving helpful oral bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked these bacteria to periodontitis and some cancers, but targeting their specific metabolic cooperation and immune-evasion mechanisms is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stacy, Apollo — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Stacy, Apollo
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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.