Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded the University of Florida $419,375 through the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121) for a two-year project grant beginning January 16, 2026 and concluding January 15, 2028. The research investigates the roles of extracellular pyruvate in regulating Streptococcus mutans physiology and stress resistance, with particular focus on the LRGAB pyruvate importer protein and its upstream regulator LYTST. The project addresses a critical gap in understanding how extracellular pyruvate functions as a metabolic signal that enhances the cariogenic bacterium's stress resistance and metabolic flexibility, providing competitive advantages in dental plaque biofilms and other pyruvate-rich environments.

The project deliverables encompass two specific aims employing advanced analytical techniques. Aim 1 involves metabolic tracking of extracellular pyruvate through 13C-labeled pyruvate feeding experiments, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and time-resolved metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to characterize gene expression and metabolic shifts during growth-phase transitions. Aim 2 utilizes fluorescence-based reporters and confocal microscopy to examine pyruvate's influence on bacterial physiology in biofilm contexts. Research will be conducted at the University of Florida's Division of Sponsored Research in Gainesville, Florida, and is expected to advance fundamental knowledge of oral microbiology with potential implications for dental caries prevention and treatment strategies.