Understanding how Streptococcus mutans builds sugars that drive tooth decay
Official title: Structural and Functional Studies on the Glucosyltransferases of the Dental Caries Pathogen Streptococcus mutans
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11333043 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how the tooth decay bacteria S. mutans makes different sugar polymers, aiming to uncover why these polymers help the bacteria stick to teeth and cause dental caries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $614,382 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE033232-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333043 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable in this basic science grant.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this specific project.
What this research studies
This project focuses on the enzymes GtfB, GtfC, and GtfD in Streptococcus mutans to reveal how they produce soluble and insoluble glucans from sucrose. By examining the molecular mechanisms and functional domains, scientists hope to map how each enzyme contributes to biofilm formation and virulence on teeth. The work combines structural biology and biochemistry to connect enzyme activity with the progression of dental caries in humans. Findings could inform new strategies to prevent or disrupt harmful biofilms. The research is conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a goal of translating basic insights into better oral health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how dental plaque forms could lead to new preventive or therapeutic approaches to reduce tooth decay.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has characterized Gtf enzymes and their role in biofilms, but the detailed mechanism of producing different glucans remains incompletely understood.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deivanayagam, Champion Christdoss Selvakumar — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Deivanayagam, Champion Christdoss Selvakumar
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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.