Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded the University of Florida a Project Grant totaling $574,966 on June 5, 2026, under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121) to investigate functional amyloid formation in Streptococcus mutans, the primary causative agent of dental caries. The research project, performing in Gainesville, Florida, and scheduled for completion by February 28, 2030, focuses on characterizing the molecular mechanisms and structural properties of amyloid-forming proteins produced by S. mutans within biofilm environments. The study addresses four identified amyloid-forming proteins—P1 (AGI/II), WapA, CNM, and SMU_63—examining their roles in bacterial adhesion, virulence, and biofilm regulation through advanced structural analysis including X-ray fiber diffraction, tertiary and quaternary structural characterization, and investigation of adhesin truncation products that facilitate biofilm formation and detachment cycles.

This research contributes to fundamental knowledge of oral biofilm pathogenesis and disease mechanisms, with potential implications for understanding dental plaque development and identifying novel prevention or intervention strategies for dental caries. The project builds on the research team's prior discoveries of oral amyloids and aims to establish a new paradigm for understanding how naturally occurring protein truncation products regulate critical stages of bacterial biofilm lifecycles, including adherence and dispersal processes associated with periodontal disease progression.