Available Research Projects

Translational Research in Oral Health Science

Research Project 1 - The development of oral microbiome transplantation in Australia

Project description:Incredibly diverse microbial communities (microbiota) are now routinely studied throughout the human body and play key roles in health and disease. In the mouth, microbiota have been shown to play key roles in caries, periodontal disease, gingivitis, and oral cancers. While antibiotics and other medications can alter these communities, correcting them to a state of health has arguably only been achieved through microbial transplantation. Microbial transplants are now commonplace in the gut, but have not yet been developed for the mouth. Here, we will use a range of techniques to explore how whole oral microbial communities may be successfully obtained and cultured from the human mouth, and in doing so, identify a range of potential healthy donors. We will then test and engineer several different deliver methods to administer oral microbiota transplantations. Lastly, we will assess the efficacy and safety of oral microbiota transplantation in two murine oral disease models

for caries and periodontal disease. This project will underpin the foundation to create oral microbiota transplants in the future by developing everything necessary to proceed to clinical trials.

Projects available for: Honours/ HDR / Masters / Mphil

Location: Helen Mayo South Building;

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special requirements: none

Research Project 2 - The development of “intelligent” particles to improve treatment of dental caries in children and the elderly

Project description: Dental caries remains one of the most preventable chronic diseases and is particularly prevalent in socio-economically disadvantaged populations. It has a huge impact on healthcare systems and is a major public health concern in Australia. Dental caries results from the dissolution of tooth enamel and dentine as a result of acids produced by oral bacteria. The extent of decay in children has increased, with half of all children having decay in at least one permanent tooth by the age of twelve. In addition, the aging population and the increase in cognitively impaired patients residing in nursing homes show increased dental caries due to difficulties for carers to brush the teeth of frail nursing home residents.

We propose a new and innovative preventative strategy using intelligent particles (IPs) that have twin mechanisms, firstly to disrupt the structure of the cariogenic plaque bacterial biofilm and then to kill the bacteria using ultra-small silver (Ag) nanoparticles. The specific objectives of the project are:

1. To engineer “IPs containing which will respond to the presence of cariogenic bacteria which produce a low pH (≤ 5.5) environment.

2. To improve the substantivity of the IPs.

3. Show that the IPs are not toxic to mammalian cells.

Projects available for: Honours/ HDR / Masters / Mphil

Location: Helen Mayo South Building;

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special requirements: none

Research Project 2 - Disruption of multi-species biofilms using novel biofilm inhibitors

Project description: The goal is to produce an antimicrobial agent and a ‘biofilm breaker’ that will, in combination, disrupt and destroy the bacterial biofilms associated with disease. The work is based upon our research that show DAA’s dramatically reduce the biofilm growth of Enterococcus faecalis, an organism which is a significant pathogen.

We have published research that shows that E. faecalis promotes biofilm growth as part of the organism’s coordinated stress response to sub-MIC levels of sodium hypochlorite. To counteract this, we propose the use of agents that disrupt biofilm growth and therefore reduce the organism’s resistance to anti-microbial treatment.

Biofilm research has been revolutionized with the adaptation of the xCELLigence® system to study bacterial biofilms. The xCELLigence® platform has the advantage over currently used protocols by monitoring biofilm development or dissociation in real time. The platform is particularly suited to the rapid screening and validation of anti-bacterial/anti-biofilm agents. The xCELLigence® allows easy quantitative comparisons between different treatments, with both bacterial cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) contributing to cell impedance. Achieving such a detailed biofilm dynamic is impossible with current assays.

Projects available for: Honours/ HDR / Masters / Mphil

Location: Helen Mayo South Building;

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special requirements: none

 

Research Project 3 - Is the dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and subsequent inflammation caused by changes in the gut metabolome of mice with periodontitis?

Project description: Research in recent years has shown the gut microbiome to be a key to human health. Our research has shown that the gut microbiome is significantly altered at both the phylum and genus levels following induction of periodontitis by oral inoculation of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. Additionally, this modification was associated with a significant change at a physiological level, as detected by significantly increased inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

To better understand the link between periodontal disease, gut microbiome and increased inflammation in the GI tract, it’s pivotal to get a better understanding of the activity of the gut microbiome by identifying the metabolites produced. This will allow us to link changes at the physiological level, like increased inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with observed in the gut microbiome.

Hypothesis: A dysbiosis in the gut microbiome as a result of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis induced periodontitis in mice causes a change in the gut metabolome that maybe detrimental to the health of the host.

Projects available for: Honours/ HDR / Masters / Mphil

Location: Helen Mayo South Building;

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special requirements: Animal ethics clearance

Research Collaborations:

Dr. Alex Mira, Centre for Public Health Research. Avda. Cataluña 21, 46020 Valencia (Spain). Biofilm development using the exCELLigence platform

Dr Stephen Kidd - Molecular and Life Science, University of Adelaide. Stress responses of oral bacteria. and Small colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus as a precursor to biofilm formation. and The association between Fusobacterium nucleatum and  adverse birth outcomes.

Professor Claire Roberts.  NHMRC Senior Research Fellow. Robinson Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide. The relationship between periodontitis and adverse birth outcomes.

Dr Claus Christopherson. Lecturer, School of Exercise and Health Sciences Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science Edith Cowan University. Fusobacterium nucleatum as an emerging gut pathogen.

 Professor Krasimir Vasilev. Humboldt Fellow, School of Engineering Mawson Lakes Campus. University of South Australia. Mawson Lakes SA 5095. The development of "intelligent particles" to disrupt oral microbial biofilms and there use in dental treatment.

Associate Professor Giampiero Rossi-Fedele. Head of Endodontics. The School of Dentistry. The University of Adelaide.The use of D-amino acids to disrupt oral microbial biofilms and there use in endodontic treatment.