Nicholas Jakubovics | |
---|---|
Born | 1973 (age 50–51) |
Alma mater | Cambridge University (BSc 1994) Warwick University (PhD 1998) |
Known for | microbial biofilms |
Scientific career | |
Fields | microbiology |
Institutions | Newcastle University NIDCR Bristol University |
Thesis | Biofilms in the potable water distribution network (1998) |
Doctoral advisor | Crawford S. Dow |
Nicholas Stephen Jakubovics (born 1973) is a British dental researcher and academic who is a professor of oral microbiology at the School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University. [1] He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dental Research. [2] His research concentrates on microbial adhesion, colonisation and cell-cell interactions, primarily in dental plaque. [1]
Jakubovics studied biochemistry at Girton College, Cambridge before completing a doctorate at Warwick University under the supervision of Crawford S. Dow. [3] He subsequently worked with Howard Jenkinson at Bristol Dental School investigating the adhesion, colonisation and sensing mechanisms of oral streptococci. In 2004, Jakubovics obtained a NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowship to work with Paul Kolenbrander at the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, Maryland, on cell-cell interactions in oral biofilms. He joined Newcastle Dental School as Lecturer in Oral Microbiology in 2007 and was promoted to Professor in 2022. His research employs techniques from molecular genetics to understand how oral biofilms form and to investigate the impact of different treatments. Jakubovics co-authored a 2019 paper finding that early-stage bacterial growth was slowed by the use of rose petal-like hierarchical surfaces. [4] He also studies biofilms elsewhere in the human body, including prosthetic joint, middle ear, and sinus infections. [1] [5]
Jakubovics, Alexander H. Rickard, Derek Samarian, and Ethan Kolderman jointly hold a patent for the use of L-arginine to remove dental plaque. [6]
Jakubovics has been editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dental Research since April 2020. [2]
Jakubovics has represented Bristol in the Four Nations Chess League. [7] He has two children and lives in Northumberland.
A biofilm comprises any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The cells within the biofilm produce the EPS components, which are typically a polymeric conglomeration of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and DNA. Because they have three-dimensional structure and represent a community lifestyle for microorganisms, they have been metaphorically described as "cities for microbes".
Streptococcus mutans is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay. It is part of the "streptococci", an informal general name for all species in the genus Streptococcus. The microbe was first described by James Kilian Clarke in 1924.
Periodontology or periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that studies supporting structures of teeth, as well as diseases and conditions that affect them. The supporting tissues are known as the periodontium, which includes the gingiva (gums), alveolar bone, cementum, and the periodontal ligament. A periodontist is a dentist that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants.
Dental plaque is a biofilm of microorganisms that grows on surfaces within the mouth. It is a sticky colorless deposit at first, but when it forms tartar, it is often brown or pale yellow. It is commonly found between the teeth, on the front of teeth, behind teeth, on chewing surfaces, along the gumline (supragingival), or below the gumline cervical margins (subgingival). Dental plaque is also known as microbial plaque, oral biofilm, dental biofilm, dental plaque biofilm or bacterial plaque biofilm. Bacterial plaque is one of the major causes for dental decay and gum disease.
The dental pellicle, or acquired pellicle, is a protein film that forms on the surface enamel, dentin, artificial crowns, and bridges by selective binding of glycoproteins from saliva that prevents continuous deposition of salivary calcium phosphate. It forms in seconds after a tooth is cleaned, or after chewing. It protects the tooth from the acids produced by oral microorganisms after consuming carbohydrates.
Porphyromonas gingivalis belongs to the phylum Bacteroidota and is a nonmotile, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, anaerobic, pathogenic bacterium. It forms black colonies on blood agar.
Scaling and root planing, also known as conventional periodontal therapy, non-surgical periodontal therapy or deep cleaning, is a procedure involving removal of dental plaque and calculus and then smoothing, or planing, of the (exposed) surfaces of the roots, removing cementum or dentine that is impregnated with calculus, toxins, or microorganisms, the agents that cause inflammation. It is a part of non-surgical periodontal therapy. This helps to establish a periodontium that is in remission of periodontal disease. Periodontal scalers and periodontal curettes are some of the tools involved.
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are natural polymers of high molecular weight secreted by microorganisms into their environment. EPSs establish the functional and structural integrity of biofilms, and are considered the fundamental component that determines the physicochemical properties of a biofilm. EPS in the matrix of biofilms provides compositional support and protection of microbial communities from the harsh environments. Components of EPS can be of different classes of polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, lipopolysaccharides, and minerals.
Oral microbiology is the study of the microorganisms (microbiota) of the oral cavity and their interactions between oral microorganisms or with the host. The environment present in the human mouth is suited to the growth of characteristic microorganisms found there. It provides a source of water and nutrients, as well as a moderate temperature. Resident microbes of the mouth adhere to the teeth and gums to resist mechanical flushing from the mouth to stomach where acid-sensitive microbes are destroyed by hydrochloric acid.
Treponema denticola is a Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic, motile and highly proteolytic spirochete bacterium. It is one of four species of oral spirochetes to be reliably cultured, the others being Treponema pectinovorum, Treponema socranskii and Treponema vincentii. T. denticola dwells in a complex and diverse microbial community within the oral cavity and is highly specialized to survive in this environment. T. denticola is associated with the incidence and severity of human periodontal disease. Treponema denticola is one of three bacteria that form the Red Complex, the other two being Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. Together they form the major virulent pathogens that cause chronic periodontitis. Having elevated T. denticola levels in the mouth is considered one of the main etiological agents of periodontitis. T. denticola is related to the syphilis-causing obligate human pathogen, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. It has also been isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis.
Gingivitis is a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums; ulitis is an alternative term. The most common form of gingivitis, and the most common form of periodontal disease overall, is in response to bacterial biofilms that are attached to tooth surfaces, termed plaque-induced gingivitis. Most forms of gingivitis are plaque-induced.
Willoughby Dayton Miller (1853–1907) was an American dentist and the first oral microbiologist.
Oral ecology is the microbial ecology of the microorganisms found in mouths. Oral ecology, like all forms of ecology, involves the study of the living things found in oral cavities as well as their interactions with each other and with their environment. Oral ecology is frequently investigated from the perspective of oral disease prevention, often focusing on conditions such as dental caries, candidiasis ("thrush"), gingivitis, periodontal disease, and others. However, many of the interactions between the microbiota and oral environment protect from disease and support a healthy oral cavity. Interactions between microbes and their environment can result in the stabilization or destabilization of the oral microbiome, with destabilization believed to result in disease states. Destabilization of the microbiome can be influenced by several factors, including diet changes, drugs or immune system disorders.
Streptococcus parasanguinis is a gram-positive bacterium of the genus Streptococcus that is classified as a member of the Streptococcus viridans group. S. parasanguinis is one of the major early colonizers of dental surfaces in the human oral cavity. Cell surface structures including pili and fimbriae allow the bacteria to adhere to oral surfaces. These adhesion molecules also play an important role in biofilm formation and promote aggregation with late tooth colonizers to form dental plaque. The presence of S. parasanguinis in the oral cavity is associated with a healthy microflora.
Mel Rosenberg is a microbiologist best known for his research on the diagnosis and treatment of bad breath (halitosis).
Biotene is an over-the-counter dental hygiene product currently marketed GSK plc. It comes in a number of forms, including toothpaste, mouthwash and gel.
Peri-implantitis is a destructive inflammatory process affecting the soft and hard tissues surrounding dental implants. The soft tissues become inflamed whereas the alveolar bone, which surrounds the implant for the purposes of retention, is lost over time.
The Journal of Dental Research is a peer-reviewed medical journal that covers all aspects of dentistry. The editor-in-chief is Nicholas Jakubovics. It was established in 1919 and is published by SAGE Publications on behalf of the International and American Association for Dental Research.
Plaque hypotheses are theories to explain the role of plaque bacteria in dental caries and in periodontitis. They rely heavily on the postulates of Koch and on the work of Louis Pasteur (1822–1895). Changing perceptions have altered treatment models.
The evolution of the human oral microbiome is the study of microorganisms in the oral cavity and how they have adapted over time. There are recent advancements in ancient dental research that have given insight to the evolution of the human oral microbiome. Using these techniques it is now known what metabolite classes have been preserved and the difference in genetic diversity that exists from ancient to modern microbiota. The relationship between oral microbiota and its human host has changed and this transition can directly be linked to common diseases in human evolutionary past. Evolutionary medicine provides a framework for reevaluating oral health and disease and biological anthropology provides the context to identify the ancestral human microbiome. These disciplines together give insights into the oral microbiome and can potentially help contribute to restoring and maintaining oral health in the future.