Bacterial-fungal interaction
Early childhood caries, severe form of tooth decay, is characterized by the frequent isolation of
the commensal yeast Candida albicans and the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus mutans
within caries-associated biofilms. Enhanced understanding of this interactions may accelerate progress towards devising new and effective therapies to disrupt this cross-kingdom biofilm associated with an important childhood oral disease.
Biofilm dynamics
Biofilm architectures are consequences of dynamic interactions between cell growth, secreted biomolecules and EPS matrix, creating microenvironmental heterogeneity. Thus, it is critical to understand organizational principles that convert cell behavior into macroscopic growth and relevant properties of biofilms. We developed an exciting new approach to track all stages of biofilm development in real-time from initial microbial colonization, assembly of EPS-matrix to complex biofilm build-up at a single-cell/multicellular levels.
Smart Dental Implant System
Osseointegrated dental implants have become a routine component of a daily dental practice. A significant body of evidence indicates that the accumulation of bacterial biofilms (dental plaque) at the soft tissue-implant interface and the subsequent local inflammatory response seems to be key in the pathogenesis of the peri-implant mucositis. Thus, we developed an ambulatory photo-biomodulation therapy using a seamless, human oral motion powered Smart Dental Implant (SDI) that can prevent the formation of biofilms on implants (and restorative components) and reduce cell inflammation as well as regenerate tissue to minimize the occurrence of implant failures.
* International Application Serial No. PCT/US21/037223 filed
Host-pathogen interactions
The accumulation of dental plaque at the soft tissue-implant interface and the subsequent local inflammatory response seems to be key in the pathogenesis of the peri-implant mucositis. As optimal daily biofilm removal with adequate periodontal therapy effectively prevents peri-implant mucositis thereby decreasing the risk for peri-implantitis, a strategy aimed at preventing bacterial adhesion on implants, reducing cell inflammation, and regenerating tissue has the potential to further minimize the occurrence of implant failures.
