Oral peptide to prevent and treat P. gingivalis-related gum disease
A Novel Peptide for the Oral Treatment and Prevention of P. Gingivalis Infection
An oral peptide medicine is being developed to stop and treat gum infections and periodontitis caused by P. gingivalis in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195532 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is creating a first-in-class oral peptide that blocks P. gingivalis from sticking to other mouth bacteria, a key step in starting gum disease. They will optimize the peptide for safe oral delivery and test it in laboratory and preclinical models to see if it reduces bacterial colonization and gum inflammation. The project targets the Mfa1–SspB interaction that helps P. gingivalis attach to commensal streptococci and aims to disrupt that binding. If preclinical results are promising, the work could move toward safety testing in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older with gingivitis, periodontitis, or known P. gingivalis colonization would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Children, people whose gum disease is not driven by P. gingivalis, or those with allergies to peptide components may not benefit from this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce gum inflammation, prevent tooth and bone loss from periodontitis, and lower infection-related risks linked to P. gingivalis.
How similar studies have performed: Strategies that block bacterial adhesion have encouraging preclinical support, but oral peptide inhibitors for P. gingivalis are largely experimental with limited human data.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, UNITED STATES
- Virtici, LLC — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Neil a — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Neil a
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 below.