SEM of Dental Plaque
Saavedra et al 2022
Research Interests
Our overall goal is to understand how bacteria interact with their surroundings, including other bacteria, and how these interactions affect multispecies community development and human health.
We use genetic approaches combined with next-generation DNA sequencing to investigate how genetic manipulation of key oral species affects dental plaque development and, ultimately, human health.
PROJECTS
LIPOTEICHOIC ACID (LTA)
Why do Gram+ cells have LTA?
LTA is an important polymer localized on the surface of Gram+ bacteria. Discovered approximately 60 years ago, LTA comprises as much as 15% of the Gram+ cell envelop dry weight, and LTA-defective strains are often non-viable or display severe growth defects, suggesting that LTA plays an important role in bacterial physiology. In spite of LTA’s importance in cell viability and how long we have known of its existence, our understanding of LTA’s role in bacterial physiology and how it contributes to survival remains obscure. The overarching goal of this project is to fill this knowledge gap.
PROTEIN ACETYLATION
The effect of protein acetylation S. gordonii biofilm development
Bacterial protein acetylation is a common posttranslational modification that influences many key physiological processes. While significant progress has been made towards the understanding of the impact of protein acetylation on bacterial physiology, much is yet to be discovered. The oral commensal Streptococcus gordonii, thought to play an important role in dental plaque development, is predicted to encode twenty-two protein acetyltransferases. Yet, no information exists on the role of protein acetylation in S. gordonii physiology. The overarching goal of this project is to investigate the role protein acetylation on S. gordonii biofilm formation and its impact in dental plaque formation.
OUR GROUP
BRUNO LIMA
PI
I was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the United States after completing my dental degree to pursue a career in microbiology. During my free time, I enjoy endurance sports and have completed several marathons and triathlons, including a full Ironman.
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
CONGRATULATIONS, Polina Zvereva-Dedele, ON RECEIVING A BESTER POSTER AWARD DURING THE BIFILM SYMPOSIUM.
May 2024
WELCOME NEW LIMA LAB MEMBER, LAUREN KRESS, DDS/PhD STUDENT IN ORAL BIOLOGY
February 2024
CONGRATULATIONS, VISITING SCHOLAR WALBER VIEIRA ON YOUR RECENT PUBLICATION
JANUARY, 2024
WELCOME NEW LIMA LAB MEMBER, ASHWANI CHUMBER, PhD STUDENT IN ORAL BIOLOGY
June 2023
CONGRATULATIONS, SHOROUK ELNAGDY ON BEING ACCEPTED INTO THE PERIODONTOLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAM
November, 2018
FORMER GROUP MEMBER, GERRIT VREEMAN, JUST PUBLISHED A PAPER IN MICROBIAL ECOLOGY!
November, 2018
CONGRATULATIONS DR. LIMA ON YOUR NIH K AWARD!
September, 2018
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
1. Nairn BL#*, Lima BP#*, Chen R, Yang JQ, Wei G, Chumber AK, Herzberg MC. Effect of fluid shear stress on oral biofilm formation and composition and the transcriptional response of Streptococcus gordonii. Mol Oral Micro (2024) Doi:10.1111/omi.12481 #co-first authors, *co-corresponding authors
2. Hackbarth M, Montoya M, Noblett CW, Lima BP, Dietz M, Staley C and Ordinola-Zapata R. An in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of a novel irrigant using next-generation sequencing. J of Endod (2024) Doi:10.1016/j.joen.2024.05.010
3. Vieira WA, de Jesus Soares A*, Lopes EM, Gomes BPFA and Lima BP*. Effect of supplementary sodium hypochlorite agitation techniques on an ex vivo oral multispecies biofilm during passive disinfection of simulated immature roots. Int Endod J (2024) Doi:10.1111/iej.14053 *co-corresponding authors
4. Park KH, Ordinola-Zapata R, Noblett WC, Lima BP and Staley C. The effect of ultrasonic and multisonic irrigation on root canal microbial communities: An ex vivo study. Int Endod J (2023) Doi: 10.1111/ iej.13996
5. Bedree JK, Kerns K, Chen T, Lima BP, Liu G, Ha P, Shi J, Pan CH, Kim KJ, Tran L, Minot S, Hendricksen EL, Lamont EI, Hardt M, Stephens D, Patel M, Kokaras A, Stodieck L, Shirazi-Fard Y, Wu B, Kwak JH, Ting K, Soo C, McLean JS, He X, Shi W. Specific Host Metabolite and Gut Microbiome Alterations are Associated with Bone-loss During Spaceflight. Cell Reports (2023) Doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112299
6. Ordinola-Zapata R, Costalonga M, Dietz M, Lima BP, Staley C. The Root Canal Microbiome Diversity and Function. A Whole-Metagenome Shotgun analysis. Int Endod J (2023) doi: 10.1111/iej.13911
7. Ordinola-Zapata R, Costalonga M, Nixdorf D, Dietz M, Schuweiller D, Lima BP, Stayle C. Taxonomic Abundance in Primary and Secondary Root Canal Infections. Int Endod J (2022) doi: 10.1111/iej.13864
8. Lima BP, Davies JR, Wickström C, Johnstone KF, Hall JW, Svensater G, Herzberg MC. Streptococcus gordonii Poised for Glycan Feeding through a MUC5B-discriminating Lipoteichoic Acid-Mediated Outside-in Signaling Circuit. J Bacteriol. (2022) doi:10.1128/jb.00118-22
9. Saavedra FM, Pelepenko LE, Boyle WS, Zhang A, Staley C, Zaia AA, Herzberg MC, Marciano MA*, Lima BP*. In vitro physicochemical characterization of five root canal sealers and their influence on an ex vivo oral multi-species biofilm community. Int Endod J (2022), doi:10.1111/iej.13742 *co-corresponding authors
10. Duong E, Truong J, Rojas Mp, Lima BP, Xu P, Shokeen B, Lux R. Streptococcus sanguinis Proteins Involved in Interspecies Binding to Fusobacterium nucleatum. JCDA (2020) doi: 10.1080/19424396.2020.12222647
11. Nairn BL, Lee G, Chumber A, Steck P, Mire M, Lima BP, Herzberg MC. Uncovering roles of Streptococcus gordonii SrtA-processed proteins in the biofilm lifestyle. J Bacteriol (2020), 203:e00544-20. doi:10 .1128/JB.00544-20.
12. Lima BP, Kho K, Nairn BL, Davies J, Svensater G, Chen R, Steffes A, Vreeman GW, Meredith TC, Herzberg MC. Streptococcus gordonii Type I Lipoteichoic Acid (LTA) Contributes to Surface Protein Biogenesis. mSphere (2019). 4:e00814-19. doi:10.1128/mSphere.00814-19.
13. Hall JW, Lima BP, Herbomel GG, Gopinath T, McDonald L, Shyne MT, Lee JK, Kreth J, Ross KF, Veglia G, Herzberg MC. An intramembrane sensory circuit monitors sortase A-mediated processing of streptococcal adhesins. Sci Signal. (2019) May 7;12(580). doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aas9941.
14. Lima BP*, Hu LI*, Vreeman GW, Weibel DB, Lux R. The Oral Bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum Binds Staphylococcus aureus and Alters Expression of the Staphylococcal Accessory Regulator sarA. Microb Ecol. (2018) 78: 336. doi: 10.1007/s00248-018-1291-0 *co-first authors
15. Lima BP, Shi W, Lux R. Identification and characterization of a novel Fusobacterium nucleatum adhesin involved in physical interaction and biofilm formation with Streptococcus gordonii. Microbiologyopen. (2017) Jun;6(3). doi: 10.1002/mbo3.444.
16. de Avila ED, de Molon RS, Lima BP, Lux R, Shi W, Junior MJ, Spolidorio DM, Vergani CE, de Assis Mollo Junior F. Impact of Physical Chemical Characteristics of Abutment Implant Surfaces on Bacteria Adhesion. J Oral Implantol. (2016) Apr;42(2):153-8. doi: 10.1563/aaid-joi-D-14-00318.
GET IN TOUCH
Contact Dr. Lima if you would like to learn more about our project or if you would like to contribute to them.
(612) 624-3991
Summer fellow Amanda Steffes presenting her research in Vancouver, Canada.
