The Ohio State University: College of Dentistry

Home

Welcome to the Kaspar Lab!

Exploring Microbial Interactions within the Human Oral Cavity

Microbes exist within complex communities, often referred to as a microbiome. The human oral microbiome contains over 700+ species living within different niches of the oral cavity. One of those niches are supragingival biofilms, or microbial biofilms attached to the exposed surfaces of teeth. While several species that live in these communities can promote the host’s oral health, others, such as Streptococcus mutans, convert dietary carbohydrates such as sucrose into an acid that can erode the tooth’s enamel causing tooth decay.

The goal of our research projects are to eliminate disease-associated bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans through microbial ecological engineering — utilizing antagonistic exchanges between microbes to our advantage to specifically target a pathogen of interest, leaving intact health-associated bacteria to promote microbiome homeostasis and the maintenance of the host’s health.

Kaspar Lab Spring 2024 @ The Ohio State University College of Dentistry Research Day

Top: Left → Right

Allen Choi, Jacob Harris, Jacob Tuckerman, Lindsey Pia, Iris Shin, and Dan Peters

Bottom: Left → Right

Justin Kaspar, Nicole Flemming, Kacee Soehnlen, Emily Williams, Isabella Williams, Sarah Klingerman, and Huizhen Lim

Photo credit: Dr. Kyulim Lee

Follow the Kaspar Lab:

Publications

X

Email: kaspar.17@osu.edu

Research in the Kaspar Lab is Supported By:

: High resolution image of cocultured biofilm of S. mutans (green), S. oralis (blue) and glucans in pink

: S. mutans biofilm on the widefield microscope, with bacteria in green and glucans in red/pink

: Triculture of three different colored S. mutans

: Coculture of S gordonii (blue) and S. mutans (green)

: Coculture of S. oralis (blue) and S. mutans (green)

: S. mutans Biofilm

: Close up view of S. mutans biofilm

: Trispecies culture of S. gordonii (red), S. sanguinis (blue), and S. mutans (green).

: Trispecies culture of S. gordonii (red), S. sanguinis (blue), and S. mutans (green).

The Ohio State University

This site powered by U.OSU

Kaspar Lab

305 W. 12th AvenuePostle Hall Rm 4179Columbus, OH 43210

Phone: 614-292-3773kaspar.17@osu.edu

If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, please email u@osu.edu or call 614-292-5000 for assistance.

The content of this site contains information pertaining to The Ohio State University. Respective University constituents are responsible for reviewing and maintaining up to date information. Links and all references to outside content do not constitute (i) incorporation by reference of information contained on or in such outside content and such information should not be considered part of U.OSU.EDU or (ii) endorsement of such content by The Ohio State University.

Log in