Understanding how certain bacteria in your mouth affect your oral health
Official title: Determining the mechanism and impact of streptococcal RaS-RiPPs on the human oral microbiome
Funded at Iowa State University · NIH-11191610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how specific compounds made by common mouth bacteria influence the health of your oral microbiome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ames, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | August 15, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DE032311-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11191610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients interested in the fundamental causes of oral health issues, such as dental caries or other streptococcal infections, may find this research relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention will not find direct benefit from this foundational research.
What this research studies
Our mouths are home to many bacteria, including Streptococci, which can cause issues like cavities and heart infections. These bacteria create special compounds called RaS-RiPPs that can stop other bacteria from growing or change how they behave. We want to discover exactly how one of these compounds, tryglysin, works and what it does to the overall balance of bacteria in your mouth. By understanding these tiny interactions, we hope to learn more about how to keep your mouth healthy. This knowledge could lead to new ways to prevent or treat oral diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for preventing and treating common oral diseases like cavities and other infections by targeting specific bacterial interactions.
How similar studies have gone: While the chemical structure and synthesis of some of these peptides are known, their specific biological significance and impact on the oral microbiome are largely unexplored, making this a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa State University
Ames, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rued, Britta — Iowa State University
- Study coordinator: Rued, Britta
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.