Completed Projects

1. Anaerobic Gram Negative Bacilli in Periodontitis and Its Association with Atherosclerosis”

2. Phyto-chemical investigation and molecular docking studies on traditional medicinal plant extracts for antimicrobial activity against clinical pathogens.

Interdisciplinary Research Themes

The interdisciplinary projects undertaken at RLOSH are organized into the following major research themes, reflecting the laboratory’s focus on oral microbiology, molecular diagnostics, therapeutic innovations, and oral–systemic disease associations.

Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Pathogen Research

Studies focusing on the identification and molecular characterization of periodontal pathogens and their association with oral diseases.

• Detection of Tannerella forsythia virulent genotypes in chronic periodontitis patients
• Detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans virulent genotypes
• Detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA genotype
• Quantitative analysis of Filifactor alocis in smokers and non-smokers with periodontitis
• Prevalence of Dialister pneumosintes among spastic children

Molecular Diagnostics and Viral Biomarker Studies

Research investigating viral and microbial biomarkers associated with oral diseases.

• Detection and correlation of Human cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus and Herpes simplex virus type 1 in chronic periodontitis
• Association of Epstein–Barr virus in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma
• Prevalence of Candida species in saliva of patients with potentially malignant disorders

Antimicrobial and Herbal Therapeutics Research

Studies evaluating herbal extracts, natural products, and alternative therapeutic agents against oral pathogens.

• Antimicrobial effect of Mangifera indica against oral pathogens
• Comparative evaluation of chlorhexidine, Mangifera indica and Ocimum sanctum
• Antibacterial efficacy of Piper betel, Ocimum sanctum and Plectranthus amboinicus
• Herbal extracts of Syzygium cumini, Terminalia chebula and Trigonella foenum-graecum against oral pathogens
• Antibacterial activity of herbal leaves on salivary pH and cariogenic bacterial count
• Antibacterial effectiveness of cinnamon chewing gum
• Antibacterial effect of herbal oral rinse against nosocomial pathogens

Endodontic Microbiology and Root Canal Disinfection

Research evaluating antimicrobial strategies and disinfection protocols in endodontic therapy.

• Evaluation of conventional and herbal root canal irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis biofilm
• Comparative evaluation of Morinda citrifolia, MTAD and NaOCl against Enterococcus faecalis
• Antibacterial activity of EDTA-Chitosan against Enterococcus faecalis
• Antibiotic–calcium hydroxide combination against Enterococcus faecalis
• Efficacy of different instrumentation techniques in polymicrobial endodontic flora

Dental Materials and Prosthodontic Microbiology

Research focusing on antimicrobial properties of dental materials and prosthodontic appliances.

• Antifungal activity of denture base materials incorporated with silver-zeolite against Candida albicans – Dr. Sangram Kumar Panda
• Evaluation of bacterial aggregation resistance in self-ligating orthodontic brackets – Dr. Joe Tom Charles

Infection Control and Aerosol Microbiology in Dentistry

Studies addressing infection control measures in dental clinical practice.

• Efficacy of pre-procedural rinse with Chlorhexidine in reducing bacterial aerosol – Dr. Siyad K. P.
• Comparative evaluation of pre-procedural mouth rinses in reducing aerosol contamination – Dr. N. Gowri Shankar
• Antimicrobial effect of ozonated olive oil and Chlorhexidine mouth rinse on oral microflora – Dr. Corlson Titus Paul S

Preventive and Clinical Oral Health Research

Studies focusing on preventive dentistry, orthodontics, and clinical biomarker evaluation.

• Salivary characteristics of early childhood caries patients before and after general anaesthesia – Dr. Vanitha
• Assessment of insulin-like growth factor-I in skeletal Class II orthodontic treatment – Dr. Deena Nancy E
• Microwave sterilization of orthodontic instruments compared with conventional sterilization methods – Dr. Mohit
• Antibacterial efficacy of probiotic chocolate against Streptococcus mutans – Dr. Monisha

Ongoing Research Projects

1. Prevalence of Candida species among patients with Oral squamous cell carcinoma and Potentially malignant disorders and Molecular characterization of Candida albicans with special reference to its virulence and antifungal resistance.

2. Assessment of quality of life and oral candidal carriage among Tobacco users and implementation of suitable educational intervention package.

3. Aggressive periodontitis: A clinico-genetic and microbiological analysis.

4. Molecular characterisation of Klebsiella species with special reference to its virulence and antibiotic resistance.

5. Study on association of Microbiota to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

6. Molecular studies on resistance and virulence determinants among clinical isolates of Enterococcus species.

7. Epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus species with special reference to Streptoccocus pneumoniae among healthy children and elderly adults.

8. Molecular studies on resistance and virulence determinants among clinical isolates of Salmonella serotypes.

9. Clinico-microbiological profile of post-operative surgical site infections.

RLOSH Research Output (Publications, Citations, H-index)

Expert Visit to RLOSH

The RLOSH regularly hosts visits by national and international experts to strengthen scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange, and research innovation in oral–systemic health sciences. During these visits, experts interact with faculty members, researchers, and students, providing valuable insights into emerging trends in oral microbiology, molecular diagnostics, and translational research.

Expert visits include laboratory facility inspections, research discussions, guest lectures, and collaborative meetings, which help enhance research quality, promote interdisciplinary partnerships, and support the development of innovative projects. These interactions contribute to capacity building, mentoring of young researchers, and advancement of the laboratory’s mission to bridge the gap between oral health and systemic health.

Such academic engagements also enhance the laboratory’s research visibility and collaborative potential, aligning with institutional goals for excellence and global outreach in research.