# Integrated computational approaches to determine contributions of the oral virome

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2024 · $155,500

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The oral cavity is a complex environment where a diverse array of organisms coexists in dynamic interplay with
the human immune system. While bacteria, archaea, and fungi have traditionally been the focus of research on
the human microbiome, recent studies have highlighted the significant role of viruses in shaping the oral
microenvironment. These submicroscopic agents, collectively known as the virome, include eukaryotic viruses,
prokaryotic (phages) viruses, and co-infective (virophages) viruses are crucial to maintaining health and may
play a role in the development and persistence of diseases. In ocean and soil communities, viruses have been
found to influence biogeochemical processes and control microbial populations through infection and lysis.
Similarly, in the human oral cavity, viruses may have a substantial impact on oral health. Although research
efforts focused on the oral virome are relatively new, recent technological advancements have made it possible
to explore this area more comprehensively. High-Throughput Sequencing and sophisticated viral discovery
tools have enabled researchers to delve deeper into the significance of viral communities.
While there have been a few recent studies of the virome in the oral cavity providing preliminary evidence of its
importance, there exists a large untapped resource in the form of hundreds of published metagenomic and
metatranscriptomic studies of the oral cavity in varying states of health and disease that have only been used
to study the traditional microbiome. Here we propose to mine this resource using innovative algorithmic
approaches and multi-omic analysis tools to pursue a comprehensive examination of the oral virome and its
interactions with the microbiome. By shedding light on the role of viruses in maintaining oral health and
contributing to disease, this research will illuminate a neglected member of the oral microenvironment and
potentially have far-reaching implications in the search for alternatives to antibiotics, such as phage therapies.
Understanding the intricate dynamics of the oral microenvironment will inspire new approaches to promote oral
health and prevent/manage oral diseases more effectively.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10948143
- **Project number:** 1R03DE033993-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shareef Majed Dabdoub
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $155,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-02 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10948143

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10948143, Integrated computational approaches to determine contributions of the oral virome (1R03DE033993-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10948143. Licensed CC0.

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