Understanding how a specific bacteria affects gum disease.
Official title: Characterization of Selenomonas sputigena invasion, intracellular life cycle, and exocytosis in gingival epithelial cells.
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11105770 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific bacteria called Selenomonas sputigena affects gum health and causes gum disease, with the hope of finding new ways to treat it and help people keep their gums healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 9, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $44,238 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DE033920-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105770 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from periodontal disease or those at risk of developing it.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without periodontal disease or those who do not have Selenomonas sputigena present in their oral microbiome may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the bacteria Selenomonas sputigena in causing periodontal disease, which leads to inflammation and tissue destruction in the gums. The study aims to uncover how this bacterium invades gum cells, survives inside them, and eventually exits the cells. By examining the mechanisms of infection and inflammation, the research seeks to provide insights into the bacterial lifecycle and its impact on gum health. Patients may benefit from a better understanding of how this pathogen contributes to gum disease and potential new treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for periodontal disease by targeting the mechanisms of bacterial infection and inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on other bacteria involved in periodontal disease, this specific investigation into Selenomonas sputigena is novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawkes, Colin G — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Hawkes, Colin G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Healthy Communities for Youth: Preventing Youth Violence in Richmond and Beyond
A community-centered program to reduce youth violence in Richmond, VA and similar communities by pairing youth voices, hospital-based support, and capacity-building for local groups.
-
S1P-S1PR1: How brain cells talk to each other during development
A study at Virginia Commonwealth University will look at how brain support cells called astrocytes communicate with neurons to shape brain circuits in development.
-
Leader cell mechanics drive collective tumor invasion in breast cancer
A small grant is funding research to understand how leader cancer cells at the edge of a tumor sense their environment and drive groups of cancer cells to invade, which could reveal new ways to stop metastasis in breast cancer.
-
How itch-sensing nerves affect skin defense against parasites
Scientists want to see if itching nerves in the skin influence how the body fights skin-hugging parasites like Schistosoma mansoni.
-
VA-ACCERT Center: Transforming Cancer Control in Virginia's public housing communities
A team at Virginia universities partners with public housing programs to spread proven ways to prevent cancer and improve cancer health in low-income communities.
-
PROMINENT cancer research: understanding how mutations in normal tissue relate to cancer growth
A cancer research project at a major university is exploring how DNA mutations in normal cells relate to the development of cancer, using animal models and human tissues to uncover clues that could inform prevention and treatment.
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.