Projects of the Oral Microbiome
Working from 2015 on, students have worked on detecting differences in bacterial populations between genders, and amongst dental students. These differences have been analyzed to see what they may signify in preventative health care. Recent research has focused on observance and detection of potential pathogens in the oral cavity via new technology like the LifeSmile Device.
With the Oral Microbiome project's emphasis on disease risk and preventative care, future directions hope to assist in helping those in the community detect pathogen-associated bacteria, and lead healthier lives because of it.
More detailed projects and presentations per year will be found below, and for all publications related to the Oral Microbiome project please click the button directly under this section.
With the Oral Microbiome project's emphasis on disease risk and preventative care, future directions hope to assist in helping those in the community detect pathogen-associated bacteria, and lead healthier lives because of it.
More detailed projects and presentations per year will be found below, and for all publications related to the Oral Microbiome project please click the button directly under this section.
2025 SCCUR Conference: CSU Channel Islands
At the 2025 SCCUR conference hosted by CSU Channel Islands, Dr. Harber and his student researchers presented the most recent updates on the oral microbiome project. The poster, Oral Microbiomes Reveal Patterns of Bacterial Dysbiosis Associated with Reproductive and Neurodegenerative Diseases, details new findings using DNA sequencing from recent oral microbiome samples.
This work goes in depth to how crucial the health of the oral microbiome is, and how modern dentistry as a field can change for the better with new findings regarding the microorganisms that make home to our teeth and gums.
This work goes in depth to how crucial the health of the oral microbiome is, and how modern dentistry as a field can change for the better with new findings regarding the microorganisms that make home to our teeth and gums.
2025 ASM Conference
In June 2025, Dr. Harber and his team presented the most recent iteration of the oral microbiome project, Oral Microbiomes Reveal Concerning Patterns of Specific Bacteria Associated with Dysbiosis and Reproductive Diseases of Women. The poster connects bacteria association in the oral microbiome with reproductive diseases for women. Future directions involve studying specific bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis in other conditions.
2025 Oral Microbiome Update and Methods of Data Collection:
In this most recent update to the Oral Microbiome Project, we have a presentation outlining the importance of the oral microbiome in human disease and how Dr. Harber and his team collected the oral microbiome data set. In this presentation, you will learn all of the background to the project, and its methodology.
2024 SCCUR Presentation: Detection of keystone bacterial indicators of dysbiosis using a multiplexed CRISPR Cas12a FRET probe strategy for the LifeSmile Device
In November of 2024, Harber and students presented at SCCUR in San Bernadino! The poster focuses on student research looking at the detection levels of S. sanguinis vs F. nucleatum (a negatively correlated pair) in study participants' oral microbiome. When S. sanguinis levels are equal to, or lower than F. nucleatum, the oral microbiome is considered to be in dysbiosis, which could lead to periodontal disease. This data is then hypothesized into the LifeSmile model using FRET pairs to detect levels of high risk bacteria, including F. nucleatum. Future directions include further research into the role of these bacteria in disease, and how we can utilize FRET pairs in detecting additional bacteria.
2024 Oral Microbiome and Systemic Disease Risks
In this poster, Dr. Harber and his students created a comprehensive review on multiple bacteria found in the 2023 data set. These bacteria, found in the supragingival microbiome, are involved in several disease pathologies. This focus on numerous bacteria, and their importance in creating a healthy, symbiotic biome is critical to oral health research, and has numerous implications on risk of diseases like cardiovascular conditions, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer.
2024 NCUR Conference Poster Presentation
Harber and his team participated in sharing two posters at this year's NCUR (National Conference on Undergraduate Research) held at CSU Long Beach: one being a presentation on An Oral Microbiome Abundance Ratio in a Portable Device, LifeSmile, Can Indicate Symbiosis or Dysbiosis Using CRISPR-Cas12a and CANTRIP in a Two-color Bacterial Abundance Ratio Readout.
In this most recent update on the Oral Microbiome Project, Harber and his team highlights the LifeSmile's ability to detect the levels of S. Sanguinis and F. Nucleatum, and their role in the oral microbiome. The team shows that high levels of dysbiosis are seen when F. nucleatum levels rise, and S. sanguinis levels fall - in a healthy oral microbiome, S. sanguinis is the dominant colonizer on the tooth surface. When F. nucleatum levels rise, the pathogenic potential of normal S. sanguinis increases as the normal levels fall.
Please see the poster below to learn more about the project.
In this most recent update on the Oral Microbiome Project, Harber and his team highlights the LifeSmile's ability to detect the levels of S. Sanguinis and F. Nucleatum, and their role in the oral microbiome. The team shows that high levels of dysbiosis are seen when F. nucleatum levels rise, and S. sanguinis levels fall - in a healthy oral microbiome, S. sanguinis is the dominant colonizer on the tooth surface. When F. nucleatum levels rise, the pathogenic potential of normal S. sanguinis increases as the normal levels fall.
Please see the poster below to learn more about the project.
2023 SCCUR Conference Presentation
In November of 2023, students presented the poster, "An Oral Microbiome Abundance Ratio in a Portable Device, LifeSmile, Can Indicate Symbiosis or Dysbiosis Using CRISPE-Cas12a and CANTRIP in a Two-color Reaction" at the SCCUR Conference hosted by Cal State Fullerton.
To view the poster please follow the slideshow below.
To view the poster please follow the slideshow below.
2022 Analysis of Fusobacterium nucleatum Cancer Risk and Detection of Systemic Disease Risk by LAMP-CRISPR Targets and Oxford Nanopore, both using the LifeSmile Device |
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Students continued research with the LifeSmile and its ability to discern bacterial populations and their associated disease risk. One presentation focused on the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and its association with colorectal cancer. The LifeSmile was able to help detect an inverse association between Fusobacterium nucleatum and streptococcus sanguinis 1.
The second presentation built upon previous research and helped further the detection of systemic disease risk of bacteria in the oral microbiome. It was determined that Fusobacterium nucleatum had the most severe disease risk in this study.
The second presentation built upon previous research and helped further the detection of systemic disease risk of bacteria in the oral microbiome. It was determined that Fusobacterium nucleatum had the most severe disease risk in this study.
Presented at SCCUR Pepperdine
Presented at April 2022 Harvard NESS Online Conference
2021 Detecting Systemic Disease Risk of the Oral Microbiome Using a Portable Device, the LifeSmile
Students used LAMP technology to identify and detect microbes in the oral cavity using the LifeSmile. In finding correlation of multiple microbe species and disease risk, this research allowed the detection of normal and low risk microbes via the LifeSmile Device. Compared to past student research, in 2019 students turned to LAMP technology for amplification of microbes.
In addition, the LifeSmile also detects pH of the oral cavity as the pH is associated with plaque risks forming on the teeth. It was found that S. sanguinis was most prevalent in plaque formation, and future research suggests to compare another species of bacteria to S. sanguinis growth between dental cleanings.
In addition, the LifeSmile also detects pH of the oral cavity as the pH is associated with plaque risks forming on the teeth. It was found that S. sanguinis was most prevalent in plaque formation, and future research suggests to compare another species of bacteria to S. sanguinis growth between dental cleanings.
Presented at Webroots Microweek November 2021
Presented at Stanford SRC Undergraduate Research Conference April 2021
Presented at March 2021 CAURS online conference
2018 Dental Students' Oral Microbiome by Gender and its Relevance for the Determination of Pathogenic Commensals
Disease associations between varying bacteria types and their gendered differences were observed in a sample of dental students. These associations were further investigated in their disease risk and potential preventative tools. With emphasis placed on "bacteria linked to systemic diseases including complications of pregnancy, neurological illness, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and ulceration". Highlighted in future directions leads to the impact of certain bacteria consumed in probiotics and the oral cavity health.
Presented at 2018 SCCUR at Pasadena City College
2017 Microbiome, Predictive Medicine and Multivariate Analysis of Resident Bacterial Populations that Pose a Disease Disk
Looking at the bacteria populations found on the tooth, tongue, throat and cheek, student researchers identified at-risk pathogens in these oral groups. With understanding this identification, future directions lead to using the oral microbiome as a preventative measure to prevent these potential pathogens from causing disease. Students also learned more regarding the composition of microbes in the oral cavity and determination of normal microbes compared to biofilms of low risk microbes. This research of curriculum development can lead to research pathways and consensus of the normal oral microbiome.
Presented at the SCCUR conference at Cal Poly Pomona
2015-2016 Gendered Differences in the Oral Microbiome
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Presented at the SCCUR Conference at the American Society for Microbiology (SCASM) in 2015, Harvey Mudd College in 2016, at the California Dental Association/California Dental Hygienists Co-Conference in 2016.
Findings from this project showed how many differences between bacterial species were observed, and the potential pathogens detected in the microbiome of the subjects that were greater than 5%. |