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, DR. LIMA FOR BEING SELECTED AS A MENTEE OF THE AADR MIND THE FUTURE PROGRAM!
AUGUST, 2020
WELCOME SUMMER FELLOW CLAIRE WALDMAN
May 22, 2019
CONGRATULATIONS, DR. LIMA FOR BEING SELECTED TO ATTEND THE 2019 NIH FUTURE RESEARCH LEADERS CONFERENCE (FRLC)!
April, 2019
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CONGRATULATIONS , AMANDA STEFFES (UMN D1 STUDENT) ON YOU AADR TRAVEL AWARD TO THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DENTAL RESEARCH MEETING IN VANCOUVER, CANADA!
March, 2019
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
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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.
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Lima, B.P., K. Kho, B. L. Nairn, J. R. Davies, G. Svensater, R. Chen, A. Steffes, G. W. Vreeman, T. C. Meredith, M. C. Herzberg. (2019) Streptococcus gordonii Type I Lipoteichoic Acid (LTA) Contributes to Surface Protein Biogenesis. mSphere. DOI:10.1128/mSphere.00814-19.
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Hall, J. H., B. P. Lima, G. G. Herbomel, T. Gopinath, L. McDonald, M. T. Shyne, J. K. Lee, J. Kreth, K. F. Ross, G. Veglia, M. C. Herzberg. (2019) An intramembrane sensory circuit monitors sortase A-mediated processing of streptococcal adhesins. Sci. Signal. DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aas9941
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Lima, B. P. *, L. I. Hu*, G. W. Vreeman, D. B. Weibel and R. Lux. (2018) The oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum binds Staphylococcus aureus alters expression of the staphylococcal accessory regulator sarA. Microbial ecology - *co-first authors DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1291-0
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Lima, B. P., W. Shi and R. Lux. (2017) Identification and Characterization of a Novel Fusobacterium nucleatum Adhesin Involved in Physical Interaction and Biofilm formation with Streptococcus gordonii. MirobiologyOpen 2017;00:1-10. DOI:10.1002/mbo3.444
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Lima, B. P., C. W. Lennon, W. Ross, R. L. Gourse, A. J. Wolfe. (2016) In vitro Evidence that RNAP Acetylation and Acetyl Phosphate-Dependent CpxR Phosphorylation Affect cpxP Transcription Regulation. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2016 Mar; 363(5).
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Avila, E. D.*, B. P. Lima*, T. Sekiya, Y. Torii, T. Ogawa, W. Shi, and R. Lux. (2015). Effect of UV-photofunctionalization on Oral Bacterial Attachment and Biofilm Formation to Titanium Implant Material. Journal of Biomaterials 67:84-92 - * co-first authors
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Avila, E. D., R. S. Molon, B. P. Lima, R. Lux, W. Shi, M. Jafelicci Jr., D. M. P. Spolidorio, C. E. Vergani and F. A. Mollo Jr. (2015). The Impact of Physical Chemical Characteristics of Abutment Implant Surfaces on Biofilm Formation. Journal of Oral Implantology 42(2):153-158.
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Rensburg, J. J., K. R. Fortney, L. Chen, A. Kreiger, B. P. Lima, A. J. Wolfe, B. P. Katz, Z. Zhang, and S. M. Spinola. (2015). Development and Validation of a High-throughput Cell-based Screen to Identify Activators of a Bacterial Two-component Signal Transduction System. Antimicrob Agents and Chemother 59: 3789-99
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Kuhn, M. L, B. Zemaitaitis, L. I. Hu, A. Sahu; D. Sorensen, G. Minasov, B. P. Lima, M. Scholle, M. Mrksich, W. F. Anderson, B. W. Gibson, B. Schilling, and A. J. Wolfe. (2014). Structural, kinetic and proteomic characterization of acetyl phosphate-dependent bacterial protein acetylation. PlosOne 9: e94816
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Lima, B. P., T. T. Huyen, K. Basell, D. Becher, H. Antelmann, & A. J. Wolfe. (2012). Inhibition of Acetyl phosphate-dependent transcription by an acetylatable lysine on RNA polymerase. J Biol Chem. 287: 32147-32160
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Lima, B. P., H. Antelmann, K. Gronau, B. K. Chi, D. Becher, S. R. Brinsmade and A. J. Wolfe, (2011). Involvement of protein acetylation in glucose-induced transcription of a stress-responsive promoter. Mol Microbiol 81: 1190-1204.
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Hu, L. I., B. P. Lima, and A. J. Wolfe. (2010). Bacterial protein acetylation: the dawning of a new age. Mol Microbiol 77: 15-21.
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Wolfe, A. J., N. Parikh, B. P. Lima and B. Zemaitaitis, (2008) Signal integration by the two-component signal transduction response regulator CpxR. J Bacteriol 190: 2314-2322.
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.
