Understanding how bacteria arrange themselves in dental plaque
Mechanisms underlying spatial interaction in the oral microbiota
This work explores how different types of bacteria in your mouth interact and organize themselves within dental plaque, both when you are healthy and when you have oral disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11301607 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are learning more about the many types of bacteria that live in your mouth and form dental plaque, which changes when you are healthy versus when you have gum disease or cavities. While we know which bacteria are present, we don't fully understand how they directly interact with each other. This project uses advanced imaging to see how specific bacteria are arranged in plaque and how they might communicate through chemicals or by physically attaching to each other. By understanding these interactions, we hope to uncover the basic ways plaque forms and changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation, but future studies building on this knowledge may seek individuals with specific oral health conditions.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing oral conditions would not directly benefit from this basic science investigation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat oral diseases by targeting how bacteria interact and form plaque.
How similar studies have performed: While the composition of oral plaque is well-studied, understanding the precise spatial and metabolic interactions between individual bacterial species in this detail is a novel and less explored area.
Where this research is happening
Louisville, United States
- University of Louisville — Louisville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramsey, Matthew — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Ramsey, Matthew
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.