Research

Research Title: Intravascular translocation of oral bacteria after polymicrobial infection in miR-375-/- gene knockout mice.

Primary Investigator: Dr. Kesavalu N Lakshmyya, B.V.Sc., M.Sc., S.C.C.

University of Florida College of Dentistry Periodontics Department

I have been a part of Dr. Kesavalu's periodontal research laboratory for the past year. 

The research focuses on the intravascular translocation of oral bacteria after polymicrobial infection in miR-375-/- gene knockout mice. The aim of the research is to investigate intravascular dissemination of five oral bacteria including S. gordonni+F. nucleatum+P. gingivalis/T. denticola/T. forsythia during ecological time-sequential polymicrobial infection (ETSPPI) in miR-375-/- KO mice. We hypothesize that viable bacter attaches gingival epithelium, penetrate epithelium, multiply, induces inflammation, enters the blood stream, and disseminates intnrnavascularly to different distant organs. 

The responsibilities I hold in this research project is to carryout Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory technique to amplify the DNA from the specific tissue samples harvested from the mice. I then perform a gel electrophoresis to analyze whether the samples contain our target bacteria DNA with a visualization box.