Monday, February 16, 2026 2/16/2026

Oral Microbiomes and Dental Caries in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Population

Award Number: R01DE028154
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/11/2018
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Oral Microbiomes and Dental Caries in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Population - PROJECT SUMMARY Childhood caries is a serious public health problem affecting the immediate and long-term quality of life of both the child and its family. Recent studies have shown an increased prevalence of caries in HIV-infected children. Furthermore, HIV-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) show decreased salivary flow rates, which likely predispose them to caries. These findings reinforce the need for evidence based prevention and treatment for the promotion and maintenance of oral health. It is now well documented that the human microbiome is intimately associated with our health, and studies focusing on the gut microbiome have shown adverse community shifts for HIV+ individuals, where normal commensals are depleted and pathogens enriched. Preliminary studies of the impact of HIV infection on the oral microbiome have shown that the distribution of certain species of bacteria and fungus in saliva is different between healthy and HIV+ individuals. Dental plaque communities show a dramatic shift in taxonomic composition as a tooth transitions from health to disease that includes a decrease in potentially beneficial bacteria that produce basic compounds and an increase in highly acidogenic and aciduric taxa. The objective of this project is to provide a detailed taxonomic and gene expression characterization of dental plaque communities at different stages of caries for children subject to HIV exposure, infection, and treatment. To accomplish this, we will take advantage of a unique cohort of HIV infected children in Nigeria. Here, we will take an innovative approach that (i) combines the 16S rRNA gene with two additional loci that provide species level resolution for the Streptococci, Neisseria, and fungi, and (ii) incorporates detailed taxonomic profiling in the construction of a reference pan-genome for metatranscriptomics. In Aim 1, for HIV-infected children on HAART, HIV exposed but uninfected children, and unexposed and uninfected (HUU) children, we will utilize metagenomics (high throughput amplicon sequencing) to profile the taxonomic composition of plaque samples obtained from teeth that represent six progressive stages of caries. In Aim 2, using plaque samples obtained from teeth that represent six progressive stages of caries, obtained from HIV-infected children on HAART and unexposed/uninfected children we will utilize metatranscriptomics to measure changes in community gene expression to determine how bacteria and fungal metabolic pathways involved in caries are influenced by HIV infection and treatment. We anticipate that these aims will yield the first detailed insight into how HIV exposure, infection, and treatment affect the ecology and development of caries in children. Ultimately, this knowledge will translate into improved prevention and intervention stratergies that could potentially mitigate an increased risk of caries in an HIV infected child.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2022	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	5	2/5/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	5	7/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	5	5/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $206,627 )
2022	2022	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	001	5	6/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,065
2022	2022	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	5	6/28/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$204,562
2022	2021	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	002	4	7/18/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $206,627

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $439,804 )
2021	2021	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	001	4	8/27/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$219,888
2021	2021	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	4	6/7/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$219,916
														Subtotal = $439,804

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $476,992 )
2020	2020	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	001	3	6/10/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$476,992
2020	2019	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	2	5/8/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $476,992

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $439,531 )
2019	2019	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	001	2	6/27/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$439,531
2019	2018	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	1	3/26/2019	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $439,531

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $511,624 )
2018	2018	CLEMSON UNIVERSITY	201 SIKES HALL	CLEMSON	SC	29634	PICKENS	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	1	9/11/2018	NEW	$511,624
														Subtotal = $511,624

Grand Total All Awards = $2,074,578

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Oral Microbiomes and Dental Caries in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Population

Award Number: R01DE028154

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/11/2018

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer