Fiscal Year:
2007
Title:
Targeted antimicrobial therapy for dental caries
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
2R42MD001831-02
Award Amount:
$1,000,000.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Extensive research in the past 50 years has demonstrated that Dental caries is a microbial infection caused by a limited number of cariogenic bacteria (i.e., Streptococcus mutans) that co-reside with over 400 other non-
harmful/commensal microbial species in the Dental plaque. The current anti-microbial strategies used to treat Dental caries have consisted primarily of mechanical removal of Dental plaque or generalized killing of oral bacteria with anti-bacterial compound
s. These remove all, kill-all approaches have shown limited efficacy, since a cleaned tooth surface provides an equal opportunity for commensal and pathogenic bacteria to re-colonize in the non-sterile environment of the oral cavity. Cariogenic bacteri
a usually re-dominate the Dental plaque after the treatment and start another cycle of cariogenesis. This study proposes to develop a targeted antimicrobial therapy against Streptococcus mutans. By selectively killing or inhibiting the cariogenic bacteria
within a pathogenic Dental plaque, a non-pathologic, commensal microbial community could be established. This healthy plaque would then serve as an effective barrier to prevent the subsequent colonization of cariogenic bacteria on the tooth surface, lead
ing to a sustained anti-caries therapeutic effect. With the Phase-I funding support, a new class of S. mutans-selective molecules, called specifically (or selectively) targeted antimicrobial peptides (STAMPs) were successfully developed. The Phase- II stud
ies aim to optimize, improve and perfect these promising molecules into actual therapeutic products against oral microbial infections. The Specific Aims are: 1): Anti-S. mutans STAMPs will be optimized for stronger killing ability, higher binding affinity,
smaller size and suitable stability in saliva; 2) Extensive cellular toxicity, genetic toxicity, and animal toxicity studies will be performed to examine the safety issue of the anti-S. mutans STAMPs; and 3) The effective and safe anti-S. mutans STAMPs wi
ll be chosen to test their ability to convert the diseased plaque to healthy plaque , using the established in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays developed in UCLA, Colgate-Palmolive and C3 Jian Inc. The successful execution of this research plan will fu
rther improve the STAMP technology and lead to the development of a targeted antimicrobial therapy against cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans. Phase III follow up works will include human clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these
STAMP-based therapeutic agents.
Small Business Information at Submission:
C3 JIAN, INC.
C3 JIAN, INC. 872 3-CRABS RD SEQUIM, WA 98382
EIN/Tax ID:
505509137
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No
Research Institution Information:
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - LOS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
Office of Research Administration
LOS ANGELES, CA 90095 3498
RI Type:
Nonprofit college or university