Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

The University of Pennsylvania received a $249,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2029. The award supports an independent research laboratory conducting investigations into the role of Selenomonas sputigena (SS), a motile oral bacterium associated with early childhood caries (ECC), in biofilm spatial structuring and virulence. The research will employ advanced methodologies including high-speed live imaging with quantitative trajectory analysis, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, local pH mapping, and an established rodent caries model to characterize how SS motility influences early surface colonization and mixed-species biofilm organization with Streptococcus mutans, ultimately identifying motility-driven mechanisms that can be targeted to reduce ECC burden.

The project deliverables include a comprehensive mechanistic framework linking bacterial motility to cariogenic function, identification of actionable prevention targets, and a research platform for studying other motile oral pathogens. Three primary research objectives will be completed: (1) characterization of SS motility in relation to surface colonization and biofilm initiation under oral-relevant conditions; (2) determination of spatiotemporal biofilm assembly and site-specific gene expression patterns; and (3) investigation of SS-mediated colonization and virulence in vivo while evaluating strategies to disrupt motility-modulated assembly. The research addresses a significant public health problem, as ECC remains prevalent in children and drives rampant tooth decay and systemic complications.