Understanding the Elusive Bacteria in Your Mouth
Official title: Domestication and characterization of TM7-the most elusive oral phylum
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11177889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand a tiny, mysterious bacteria called TM7 that lives in our mouths and becomes more common when gums are inflamed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Somerville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $563,154 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE023810-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177889 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients experiencing gum inflammation, gingivitis, or periodontitis may find this research particularly relevant to their condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without oral inflammation or those seeking immediate clinical treatment for existing conditions would not directly benefit from this foundational research.
What this research studies
We are learning more about a very small bacteria, TM7, which is found in everyone's mouth but increases significantly during gum inflammation like gingivitis and periodontitis. Previously, we successfully isolated a specific type of TM7 and found it lives on the surface of another bacteria. Now, we are exploring how these two bacteria interact, from their initial connection to how they live together. By understanding these interactions, we hope to uncover the secrets of TM7's unique biology and its role in oral health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat gum inflammation and periodontitis by targeting these specific bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work successfully isolated this elusive bacteria, and this project builds upon that success to explore its complex interactions, making it a novel extension of prior findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
Somerville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Xuesong — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: He, Xuesong
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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.