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Kaspar Lab:
Exploring Microbial Interactions in the Human Oral Cavity
Focused on the exchanges between oral commensal streptococci and odontopathogens
Recent Lab News

New Publication on Growth Behaviors of Streptococcus mutans
January 23rd, 2023
The lab's first publication was released with the Journal of Dental Research (JDR). This manuscript details the species-dependent alteration in behaviors of cariogenic S. mutans with commensal streptococci but not other oral bacteria.

Lab Receives Seed Grant from College of Dentistry
January 17th, 2023
The OSU College of Dentistry Office of Research has awarded the Kaspar Lab a seed grant to study the cariogenic organism Streptococcus sobrinus and its relationship with Streptococcus mutans. The goal of the seed grant is to obtain preliminary data for a potential NIH grant submission.

Justin Attends 2022 Streptococcal Biology Gordon Research Conference
August 15th, 2022
Justin traveled to Maine to attend the 2022 Streptococal Biology Gordon Research Conference, where he also presented a poster titled "How Oral Streptococci Respond to Each Other and Their Environment".

Lab Receivers R03 Funding from NIDCR
August 1st, 2022
The Kaspar Lab has received its first external funding award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The grant, entitled "Interactions of Streptococcus mutans in Supragingival Biofilms", aims to define how S. mutans responds to different groups of oral bacteria, and critical genes involved within these interactions.

Kaspar Lab at AADOCR 2022
March 24th, 2022
The Kaspar Lab had two presentations at AADOCR 2022, including undergraduate Melfi Fellow Kevin Dong's presentation titled "Growth Environment Impacts Interspecies Interactions Between Oral Streptococci" and Justin's presentation at the "Streptococcal Responses to Environmental Lifestyle Cues" Symposium

Kaspar Lab Presents at College of Dentistry Research Day 2022
February 25th, 2022
Kaspar Lab members presented 8 different pre-recorded videos about our ongoing research projects at the 2022 OSU College of Dentistry

New 'Behind the Paper' Posted!
October 1st, 2020
We wrote a 'Behind the Paper' post on our ISME publication! See the story that led to our most recent findings about direct contact with commensal streptococci influencing S. mutans behaviors.
New Publication on Direct Contact Between S. mutans and commensals
September 30th, 2020
Our latest research into transcriptomic changes that occur in the dental caries pathogen S. mutans when it is in direct contact with other commensal streptococci was publish in The ISME Journal. Check out 'Direct interactions with commensal streptococci modify intercellular communication behaviors of Streptococcus mutans"!

Kaspar Lab Opens at Ohio State!
July 1st, 2020
Justin Kaspar, PhD started his faculty appointment as an assistant professor in the Division of Biosciences within the College of Dentistry on July 1st, 2020. Kaspar Lab 1.0 will be located in Postle Hall, Room 4185.

Kaspar Lab Coming to Ohio State College of Dentistry
March 6th, 2020
Dr. Justin Kaspar will join the college faculty on July 1 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences. He earned a B.S. degree in microbiology from Texas A&M University, after which he completed a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida.
Contact Us
Thanks for your interest in our research. Get in touch with us for any questions or comments regarding our work and publications. We’d love to hear from you!
Postle Hall
305 W. 12th Avenue
Office: Room 4179
Lab: Room 4185
Columbus, OH 43210-1267
