Understanding TM7 bacteria in the mouth and how they affect gum disease
Official title: Domestication and characterization of TM7-the most elusive oral phylum
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11372280 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies TM7 bacteria in the human mouth to learn how they interact with other bacteria and influence gum inflammation.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $563,154 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE023810-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372280 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with or at risk for gingivitis or periodontitis who contribute oral samples or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without gum disease may not directly benefit from the specific mechanisms studied here.
What this research studies
Researchers will study TM7x, a tiny bacterium that lives on another oral bacterium, to map how their connection develops and affects the mouth’s environment. They will examine the four-phase process of how TM7x binds to hosts, influences the host, and forms a stable relationship, using advanced lab methods and human oral samples. The goal is to uncover the molecular rules that govern this episymbiotic partnership and how it relates to gingivitis and periodontitis. This work could reveal new targets to prevent or lessen inflammatory gum diseases. The project builds on prior findings showing the unique biology of TM7x and its impact on oral microbial communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat gum disease by targeting TM7-host interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work demonstrated TM7x's unique episymbiotic lifestyle, with progress toward understanding its role in disease; this project aims to deepen that understanding.
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
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.