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BUFFALO, N.Y. - The University at Buffalo has received a $1.5 million grant from the United States Department of Defense to develop new therapies that help reduce chronic inflammation and immunosuppression in oral cancers.
Through the three-year grant, the research will center on a type of white blood cell called a macrophage that - after migrating to oral tumors - triggers uncontrolled inflammation, which suppresses the body s immune response and lowers the effectiveness of anticancer therapies.
The researchers aim to reprogram the macrophages by targeting genes that regulate inflammation. By lowering inflammation, oral cancers will become more sensitive to new and traditional chemotherapies.
Bacteria in Gums Use Growth Molecules from Neighbors to Survive by Angela Mohan on January 6, 2021 at 12:28 PM
Veillonella parvula bacteria engage in a one-sided relationship with pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, helping the germ multiply and cause gum disease, according to a new University at Buffalo-led study.
P. gingivalis borrows growth molecules from V. parvula, a common yet harmless bacteria in the mouth whose growth is not population dependent.
In a healthy mouth, P. gingivalis makes up a miniscule amount of the bacteria in the oral microbiome and cannot replicate. But if dental plaque is allowed to grow unchecked due to poor oral hygiene, V. parvula will multiply and eventually produce enough growth molecules to also spur the reproduction of P. gingivalis.
Researchers test the effects of growth molecules exuded by oral bacteria
The human body is filled with friendly bacteria. However, some of these microorganisms, such as
Veillonella parvula, maybe too nice.
These peaceful bacteria engage in a one-sided relationship with pathogen
Porphyromonas gingivalis, helping the germ multiply and cause gum disease, according to a new University at Buffalo-led study.
The research sought to understand how
P. gingivalis colonizes the mouth. The pathogen is unable to produce its own growth molecules until it achieves a large population in the oral microbiome (the community of microorganisms that live on and inside the body).
Microbiome study: Gum disease-causing bacteria borrow growth molecules from neighbors to thrive
Patricia Diaz, DDS, PhD, Professor of Empire Innovation in the UB School of Dental Medicine and director of the UB Microbiome Center.
“Successfully targeting the accessory pathogen V. parvula should prevent P. gingivalis from expanding within the oral microbial community to pathogenic levels. ”
Patricia Diaz, DDS, PhD, Professor of Empire Innovation and director, UB Microbiome Center
School of Dental Medicine
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The human body is filled with friendly bacteria. However, some of these microorganisms, such as Veillonella parvula, may be too nice. These peaceful bacteria engage in a one-sided relationship with pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, helping the germ multiply and cause gum disease, according to a new University at Buffalo-led study.