The oral cavity is a port of entry to the digestive and respiratory tracts. Different sites in the aerodigestive tract are characterized by specific microbiomes, which also share several of the same microbial inhabitants. Among these are microorganisms which can lead to disease, especially if the balance in the normal microbiome is interrupted.
About our research
In high income countries, dentists stand for 6%-11% of antibiotic prescriptions in primary health care. The increase in antimicrobial resistance means that common procedures done today in dentistry and medicine, such as implants and use of prosthetic devices, may become too risky to be recommended in the near future.
Antimicrobial resistance is, according to the UN, one of the major threats to humanity. In our group, we are applying the experience acquired during years of research in oral microbiology to survey the impact of antimicrobials on the human microbiome. Our research focuses on the microbiome as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes to pathogens, and in the potential of translating such knowledge into new diagnostic tools and vaccines.
Our projects
- Project I - Cell to cell communication in streptococci
- Project II - Protective immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Project III - Born in the twilight of antibiotics: Implications of antibiotic use to the preterm infant respiratory microbiome and resistome development
- Project IV - Born in the twilight of antibiotics: Fighting antimicrobial resistance in preterm infants
- Project V - Antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and Modic changes: effects on the microbiome and resistome.
- Project VI - INTPART – Enhancing world-class research and education in biofilm and anbitiotic resistance by strengthening cooperation between Norway-Brazil-USA.
News
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Unlocking Oral Microbiome Mysteries: Guest Researcher Explores Peptides' Impact Aug. 11, 2023 12:15 PM
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An oral fungus brought a Brazilian exchange student to Norway Aug. 24, 2020 10:52 AM
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International collaboration meeting in Brazil Feb. 17, 2020 10:55 AM
Participants from University of Oslo
- Fernanda Cristina Petersen
- Sudhanshu Shekhar
- Gabriela Salvadori Silva
- Kjersti Sturød
- Navdeep Kaur Brar
- Achal Dhariwal
- Emily Caroline Alves Dahlbo
- Polona Rajar
- Heidi Aarø Åmdal
- Anna Torwick
Contact
Project leader Fernanda Petersen: f.c.petersen@odont.uio.no
Project coordinator Anna Torwick: anna.torwick@odont.uio.no
Follow us on twitter: @AMRtwilight