Sara Sharaf received funding from the BSP Research Grant. Sara is a second year PhD student.
Speaking about this amazing achievement, she told us more about her project and how this funding will help her research: “The mouth harbours a delicately balanced bacterial community. When disrupted, this balance can shift from harmless commensals to harmful pathogens. In the case of Porphyromonas gingivalis, this shift leads to inflammation and eventual destruction of the tooth's supporting structures. If left untreated, it can even contribute to other systemic complications. Bacteria possess a unique defence system called the Type-1 Restriction Modification System (Type-1 RMS) that helps them fight off invading viruses by recognising and cutting their foreign DNA. Interestingly, recent research suggests that Type-1 RMS plays additional roles in regulating factors that influence a bacterium's disease-causing potential. My project aims to be the first to investigate the role of Type-1 RMS in P. gingivalis' ability to cause disease. By understanding how this bacterium transitions from harmless to harmful, we can develop better treatments for periodontitis and improve prevention of related medical conditions."
"The British Society of Periodontology has contributed a sum of £5000 to this project, the funding will go towards identifying the different alleles of Type-1 RMS through quantification via capillary electrophoresis and acquiring reagents for phenotypic assays to determine the invasive and evasive capacity of these strains of P. Gingivalis.”
We would like to extend our congratulations to Sara and best of luck with her project!