The research goals of the Division of Periodontics are to

• encourage and support all forms of academic research;
• promote collaborative research activities between faculty at the College and faculty in the Health Sciences and the University;
• promote postdoctoral students’ research training;
  and
• develop dental educators committed to research as part of their professional lives.

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Effects of Periodontal Therapy on Preterm Birth and Infant Neurodevelopment
A multi-center randomized clinical trial, examining the effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy on the incidence of preterm birth and on infant neurodevelopment.
PI: Panos N. Papapanou

Gene expression signatures in chronic and aggressive periodontitis
A study of gene expression in gingival tissues in different forms of periodontitis, studied by microarray technology.
PI: Panos N. Papapanou

Oral infections, carotid atherosclerosis and stroke
A prospective follow-up study examining the role of oral infections in the development of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke.
CoI: Panos N. Papapanou

Periodontal therapy and peripheral blood mononuclear cell activation
A prospective intervention study that examines the systemic anti-inflammatory effects of periodontal therapy with special focus on the gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
PI: Panos N. Papapanou

AETNA collaborative project
A project that aims at developing evidence-based oral health care policy recommendations based on advancements in research and science.
CoI: Panos N. Papapanou

Clinical and Translational Science Award
A project aiming at providing infrastructure support for clinical and translational research across the CUMC campus.
CoI: Panos N. Papapanou

Proteomic identification of virulence factors of Tannerella forsythia Proteomics approaches, including 2-D gel electrophoresis and 2-D immunoblotting analysis, are utilized to identify unknown virulence factors of T. forsythia that are expressed during only in vivo, not in vitro growth. Differentially expressed proteins of T. forsythia will thus be identified and further characterized using genomics tools and data base analysis of the Tannerella forsythia genome. Eventually, specific functions of the identified virulence factors will be assessed by constructing isogenic mutants lacking these proteins in animal studies.
Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile

Characterization of a surface (S-) layer of Tannerella forsythia
It was found that Tannerella forsythia possesses a unique outer surface component termed surface (S-) layer. Functional studies revealed that the S layer is involved in pathogenesis through direct interactions with host, resulting hemagglutination, adherence/invasion, and abscess formation in animal model. To further characterize the structure and role(s) of this component in the infectious process, the gene(s) encoding this layer have been identified, cloned and sequenced. It was found that the S-layer actually consist of two large glycoproteins with 200 and 210-kD in molecular size. Construction of single and double isogenic mutants lacking the glycoprotein(s) is now underway.
Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile

Interaction between P. gingivalis and T. forsythia
It has been observed that P. gingivalis is frequently isolated together with T. forsythia from the periodontal lesion and that a mixed infection of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia significantly enhanced the virulence potential in abscess formation in the animal model. These findings suggest a synergistic effect of two microorganisms in periodontal pathogenesis. In our preliminary study, the coaggregation activity between P. gingivalis 381 and T. forsythia 43037 was observed. The purpose of this current study is to identify surface proteins from P. gingivalis and T. forsythia that are involved in this interaction using biotin labeling and mass spectrometry.
Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile

Antibiotic resistance determinants of oral bacteria
The purpose of this study is to characterize antibiotic resistance determinants from oral biofilms. Adopting a novel metagenomic approach, both known and unknown resistance determinants (genes) will be identified and characterized from oral bacteria including those that can not be cultivated in vitro. Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile Characterization of a surface (S-) layer of Tannerella forsythia It was found that Tannerella forsythia possesses a unique outer surface component termed surface (S-) layer. Functional studies revealed that the S-layer is involved in pathogenesis through direct interactions with host, resulting hemagglutination, adherence/invasion, and abscess formation in animal model. To further characterize the structure and role(s) of this component in the infectious process, the gene(s) encoding this layer have been identified, cloned and sequenced. It was found that the S-layer actually consist of two large glycoproteins with 200 and 210-kD in molecular size. Construction of single and double isogenic mutants lacking the glycoprotein(s) is now underway. Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile Interaction between P. gingivalis and T. forsythia It has been observed that P. gingivalis is frequently isolated together with T. forsythia from the periodontal lesion and that a mixed infection of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia significantly enhanced the virulence potential in abscess formation in the animal model. These findings suggest a synergistic effect of two microorganisms in periodontal pathogenesis. In our preliminary study, the coaggregation activity between P. gingivalis 381 and T. forsythia 43037 was observed. The purpose of this current study is to identify surface proteins from P. gingivalis and T. forsythia that are involved in this interaction using biotin labeling and mass spectrometry.
Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile

Antibiotic resistance determinants of oral bacteria
The purpose of this study is to characterize antibiotic resistance determinants from oral biofilms. Adopting a novel metagenomic approach, both known and unknown resistance determinants (genes) will be identified and characterized from oral bacteria including those that can not be cultivated in vitro.
Click here for Dr. Seok-Woo Lee’s faculty profile