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Research > Oral Biosciences > Oral Biosciences

Oral Biosciences

This division is responsible for Laboratory based research in Oral Microbiology and Material Science

(Head of Division – Professor David Coleman)

Division of Oral Biosciences

This division consists of two units and undertakes basic, clinical and applied research on Oral Microbiology and Material Science. The division provides diagnostic microbiology services for the Dublin Dental Hospital clinics and outside dental clinics staffed by Dental Hospital personnel and plays a major role in the provision of teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students. (Head of Division – Professor David Coleman).

Staff Members of Division

David Coleman, Garry Fleming, Gary Moran,  Mary O’Donnell, Anna Shore, Derek Sullivan.

Microbiology Research Unit

Research:

The Microbiology Research Group conducts basic, applied and translational research in four key research fields:

  • Epidemiology, population biology, genomics, drug resistance mechanisms and virulence mechanisms of the fungal species responsible for oral candidosis, especially Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. The C. dubliniensis yeast species was first identified and named by our group in 1995 and the Unit acts as an international centre of excellence for research into this novel pathogen.
  • Management and control of microbial biofilm contamination of dental chair unit waterlines and suction systems and large water distribution systems in healthcare facilities. This research involves close collaboration with Planmeca Oy, a Helsinki-based dental chair unit manufacturing company. Mixed-species bacterial biofilm formation in dental chair unit components is a universal problem and much of our research in this field has been translated into improved dental chair unit designs, with enhanced features for more effective control and bio-decontamination of microbial biofilm. Other research with the Irish safe water technology company Trustwater (Clonmel, County Tipperary) has resulted in the development of large-scale fully automated systems for maintaining the quality of water in healthcare facilities at better than potable quality standards.
  • The molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Irish hospital and community sources. Much of this work focuses on the application of high-throughput systems, including DNA microarrays, for screening clinical isolates in order to trace infection routes and detect the emergence of new MRSA derivatives. This research is being undertaken in collaboration with the National MRSA Reference Laboratory at St. James’s Hospital, Dublin and research partners at Beaumont Hospital, St. James’s Hospital and in Germany and the USA.
  • The development of in vitro models to study mixed species biofilms of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, two of the most significant bacterial pathogens involved in human periodontal disease. The models are being assessed both as a tool for translational research in assessing novel antimicrobial strategies to eradicate periodontal biofilm and as a tool to study bacterial interactions within biofilms.

Diagnostics:

Microbiology Unit personnel also provide a clinical diagnostic service for oral fungal infections. This service identifies the causative agents of fungal infections of the oral cavity and where appropriate susceptibility levels to antifungal agents are determined to facilitate effective drug treatment. Microbiology Unit staff are also responsible for ensuring good microbiological quality of dental chair unit output water and for advising on Legionella bacteria controls for the  hospital’s water distribution system.
 

Infection Prevention and Control:

Microbiology Unit personnel have been engaged in the development of National best practice guidelines for the control of Legionellosis in Ireland with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and in the development of the Code of Practice for the decontamination of reusable invasive medical devices with the Health Services Executive. Microbiology Unit personnel provide expert advice and practical assistance in the development and implementation of hospital infection prevention and control policies in-line with best practice and national and international guidelines and legislation.

Education:

Microbiology Unit personnel play a major role in curriculum development and in teaching basic and clinical sciences to:

  • Undergraduate dental students
  • Student dental nurses and student hygienists
  • Postgraduate dentists undertaking taught doctorate degrees
  • Supervising postgraduate students undertaking M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees by research
  • Supervising postgraduate student D. Dent. Ch. research projects

Materials Science Unit

Research:

 

The Dental Materials Science Research Unit undertakes research into a variety of dental materials routinely employed in clinical practice.

The projects currently under investigation include:

  • Research into developing an ideal posterior filling material to replace dental amalgam. Recent research investigations have included gallium-based alloys and conventional methacrylate resin and oxirane resin based composites (RBCs). More recently research has focused on RBC research in particular nano-composites and low shrink organically modified ceramics as well as reinforced glass-ionomer restoratives as possible aesthetic alternatives to dental amalgams.
  • The unit also undertakes research on the performance of all-ceramic restorations including porcelain laminate veneers, crowns and bridges. The unit has employed an in-vitro mechanical test to examine the clinical failure mode and fracture origin of dentine bonded crowns and the connector area of fixed partial dentures produced by different laboratory and machined fabrication processes. Recent research has focused on a novel profilometric technique to determine stressing patterns throughout the thickness of a dentine bonded crown material induced by pre-cementation and cementation operative techniques. The deflection test has proved to be a reliable method that enabled quantification of the stresses induced in dentine bonded crown materials and offers a further complimentary tool to the ceramicists’ armoury as a non-destructive test.
  • Research within the unit also include the performance of dental cements when employed in conjunction with dental ceramics and include investigations into the corrosive potential of acid-base cements and the apparent strengthening mechanism of resin cements on controlled porcelain surfaces.
  • Investigations into the potential toxicity effects of Nickel containing dental alloys routinely used in metal-ceramic crowns are also ongoing in the unit. Biocompatibility studies employed include the assessment of cell density, cell morphology, and cell viability. Cellular proliferation analysis includes using an XTT metabolic assay techniques, cellular toxicity levels with LDH assay techniques and metal ion release by ICP-MS techniques are regularly performed. Immunological cytokine profiles with a sandwich ELISA method specific for inflammatory molecules IL-1α, IL-8, PGE2 and TNF-α are also employed for biocompatibility studies.

Education:

Materials Science unit personnel are involved in teaching materials science to:

  • Dental, hygiene and therapy, dental technology and dental nursing students
  • Supervising postgraduate students undertaking M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees by
  • Research
  • Supervising postgraduate student D. Dent. Ch. research projects

 

Staff Profiles

David Coleman Professor of Oral and Applied Microbiology (personal chair)

Contact details:Tel:  +353 (01) 612 7276, Email: david.coleman@dental.tcd.ie

Administrative responsibilities:

  • Head of Division of Oral Biosciences
  • Head of Microbiology
  • Director of the Oral Biosciences Laboratory

Teaching:

  • Microbiology and infection prevention and control
  • Applied microbiology and environmental management in healthcare facilities
  • Postgraduate (Ph.D.) research student supervision

Research Interests:

Management of microbial biofilms in water systems in healthcare facilities.

 One of my main research interests focuses on the development of automated systems for controlling microbial contamination in water systems in healthcare facilities, especially those supplying medical devices such as dental chair units. Waterborne spread of infectious disease is potentially significant with medical devices supplied with water. This research is fundamentally translational and involves industrial partners in Finland (Planmeca) and in Ireland (Trustwater) and has resulted in the development of novel dental chairs with automated and semi-automated control systems for eliminating microbial contamination. Large-scale automated systems for maintaining the water quality in large water distribution systems at better than drinking quality have also be developed and successfully commercialised. Current work includes the application of Trustwater Ecasol vapour technology for the rapid and effective environmental decontamination of healthcare facilities.

Molecular epidemiology and population analysis of MRSA.

 Another main research interest concerns the population analysis of MRSA from hospital and community sources. MRSA have been endemic in Irish hospitals for nearly 40 years and have been responsible for considerable patient morbidity. The recent emergence of community-acquired MRSA has added to this problem. Infections with MRSA also cause a considerable drain on limited healthcare resources. My work in this field focuses on high-throughput screening of populations of MRSA using sophisticated DNA typing systems and DNA arrays. This allows the accurate tracing of the sources of MRSA and allows the early identification of emerging strains with enhanced virulence potential and antimicrobial agent resistance.

Epidemiology and population biology of Candida dubliniensis.

 Candida dubliniensis is a pathogenic yeast species discovered by Derek Sullivan and I in 1995. The organism causes infections in immunocompromised and debilitated patients. My research on this yeast focuses on its epidemiology, population biology and drug resistance mechanisms, work that is complementary to research undertaken by other members of the Microbiology Unit.

Representative recent publications:

 1. Monecke S, Coombs G, Shore AC, Coleman DC, Akpaka P, Borg M, Chow H, Ip M, Jatzwauk L, Jonas D, Kadlec K, Kearns A, Laurent F, O’Brien FG, Pearson J, Ruppelt A, Schwarz S, Scicluna E, Slickers P, Tan HL, Weber S, Ehricht R. (2011). A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS One. 6: e17936.

2. Shore AC, Rossney AS, Brennan OM, Kinnevey PM, Humphreys H, Sullivan DJ, Goering RV, Ehricht R, Monecke S, Coleman DC. (2011). Characterization of a Novel Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element (ACME) and Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette mec Composite Island with Significant Homology to Staphylococcus epidermidis ACME type II in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Genotype ST22-MRSA-IV. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 55:1896-1905

3. McManus BA, McGovern E, Moran GP, Healy CM, Nunn J, Fleming P, Costigan C, Sullivan DJ, Coleman DC. 2011. Microbiological Screening of Irish Patients with Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy Reveals Persistence of Candida albicans Strains, Gradual Reduction in Susceptibility to Azoles, and Incidences of Clinical Signs of Oral Candidiasis without Culture Evidence. J Clin Microbiol. 49:1879-1889

4. Shore AC, Rossney AS, Kinnevey PM, Brennan OM, Creamer E, Sherlock O, Dolan A, Cunney R, Sullivan DJ, Goering RV, Humphreys H, Coleman DC. (2010). Enhanced discrimination of highly clonal ST22-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus IV isolates achieved by combining spa, dru, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing data. JJ Clin Microbiol. 48: 1839-1852.

5. Coleman DC, Moran GP, McManus BA, Sullivan DJ. (2010). Mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance in Candida dubliniensis. Future Microbiology. 5:935-949.

Full CV


Derek Sullivan, Associate Professor

Contact details: Tel: +353 (01) 612 7275, Email: derek.sullivan@dental.tcd.ie

Administrative responsibilities:

  • Director of Research and Chair of Research Committee
  • Co-ordinator of the 2nd Dental Science year

Teaching:

  • Problem-based learning tutor for first and second year Dental Science
  • Year co-ordinator for year 2nd year Dental Science
  • Postgraduate (Ph.D.) research student supervision

 Research Interests:

  • Pathogenesis and epidemiology of pathogenic fungi.

The main theme of my research is the analysis of virulence in Candida species, in particular Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans. This research involves the comparative analysis of the genomes and transcriptomes of these two very closely related species to identify the reasons for the disparity in their virulence. To date we have identified significant differences between the two species (e.g. absence of ALS3 and differential expression of SFL2 in C. dubliniensis) and we are currently investigating the role that these differences play in pathogenesis. Ongoing research into the epidemiology, population biology and drug resistance of Candida species is also a priority.

Representative recent publications:

1. Spiering MJ, Moran GP, Chauvel M, MacCallum DM, Higgins J, Hokamp K, Yeomans T, d’Enfert C, Coleman DC, Sullivan DJ. (2010). Comparative transcript profiling of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis identifies SFL2, a C. albicans gene required for virulence in a reconstituted epithelial infection model. Eukaryotic Cell. 9:251-265.

2. Enjalbert B, Moran GP, Vaughan C, Yeomans T, MacCallum DM, Quinn J, Coleman DC, Brown AJ, Sullivan DJ. (2009). Genome-wide gene expression profiling and a forward genetic screen show that differential expression of the sodium ion transporter Ena21 contributes to the differential tolerance of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis to osmotic stress. Molecular Microbiology. 72:216-218.

3. Citiulo F, Moran GP, Coleman DC. Sullivan DJ. (2009). Purification and germination of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis chlamydospores cultured in liquid media. FEMS Yeast Research. 9:1051-1060.

4. McManus BA, Sullivan DJ, Moran GP, d’Enfert C, Bougnoux ME, Nunn MA, Coleman DC. (2009). Genetic differences between avian and human isolates of Candida dubliniensis. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 15:1467-1470.

5. McManus BA, Moran GP, Higgins JA, Sullivan DJ, Coleman DC. (2009). A Ser29Leu substitution in the cytosine deaminase Fca1p is responsible for clade-specific flucytosine resistance in Candida dubliniensis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 53:4678-4685

6. Jackson AP, Gamble JA, Yeomans T, Moran GP, Saunders D, Harris D, Aslett M, Barrell JF, Butler G, Citiulo F, Coleman DC, de Groot PW, Goodwin TJ, Quail MA, McQuillan J, Munro CA, Pain A, Poulter RT, Rajandream MA, Renauld H, Spiering MJ, Tivey A, Gow NA, Barrell B, Sullivan DJ, Berriman M. (2009). Comparative genomics of the fungal pathogens Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans. Genome Research. 19:2231-2244.

Full CV

Personal Website

Gary Moran, Lecturer in Microbiology

Contact details: Tel: +353 (01) 612 7245, Email: gary.moran@dental.tcd.ie

Teaching:

  • First and Second year Dental Science PBL tutor.
  • Organiser of Microbiology Laboratory Practical classes to 2nd Year Dental Science students and 1st year Dental Nursing students.
  • Co-ordinator of the Foundation scholarship exams in Dental Science.

Research Interests:

  • Periodontal Microbiology
  • Virulence in Candida species
  • Biocompatibility of Ni containing dental alloys (in collaboration with the Material Science Unit, DDUH)

Periodontal Microbiology.

 I am currently developing biofilm models to investigate the interactions of bacteria responsible for periodontal diseases. Biofilms of anaerobic bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis are responsible for destruction of the connective tissues supporting teeth and chronic infection may also contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. We are currently using tissue culture models to study the interaction of biofilms with human cells to identify factors involved in pathogenesis and to develop novel methods of biofilm removal.

Virulence in Candida species.

 This reseach project focuses on the comparative analysis of the fungal pathogens Candida albicans and its close relative C. dubliniensis. C. dubliniensis is less virulent than C. albicans and this is largely due to the inability of C. dubliniensis to produce hyphae in nutrient rich conditions. We have recently shown that the transcription factor UME6 is repressed by nitrogen rich conditions in C. dubliniensis and this accounts for the inability of this species to filament in many laboratory media. We are currently investigating the basis of nitrogen sensing in both species. We are also investigating the role of a novel gene family in C. albicans, the telomeric TLO gene family. Only two orthologous genes are present in C. dubliniensis, whereas C. albicans posseses up to 14 members. Deletion of the C. dubliniensis orthologues has revealed roles in stress resposnes and filamentation.

Biocompatibility of Ni containing dental alloys.

In collaboration with the Material Science Unit at the Dublin Dental School and Hospital, we are investigating the inflammatory potential of Ni containing dental alloys using a novel 3D model of the oral mucosa.

Representative recent publications:

1. Cooke N, Smith S, Moran G, Rogers T, Cooke FJ, Fookes M, Ivens A, Wain J, Walsh F. (2010). Comparison of dna microarrays for detection of plasmid mediated antimicrobial Resistance genes and virulence factors in clinical enterobacteriaceae and non- Enterobacteriaceae. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 35:593-598.

2. Fleischhacker M, Pasligh J, Moran G, Ruhnke M. (2010). Longitudinal genotyping of Candida dubliniensis isolates reveals strain maintenance, microevolution and the emergence of itraconazole resistance. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 48:1643-1650.

3. Spiering MJ, Moran GP, Chauvel M, MacCallum DM, Higgins J, Hokamp K, Yeomans T, D’Enfert C, Coleman DC, Sullivan DJ. (2010). Comparative Transcript Profiling of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis identifies SFL2, a C. albicans gene required for virulence in a reconstituted epithelial infection model. Eukaryotic Cell. 9:251-265.

4. Jackson AP, Gamble JA, Yeomans T, Moran GP, Saunders D, Harris D, Aslett M, Barrell JF, Butler G, Citiulo F, Coleman DC, de Groot PW, Goodwin TJ, Quail MA, McQuillan J, Munro CA, Pain A, Poulter RT, Rajandream MA, Renauld H, Spiering MJ, Tivey A, Gow NA, Barrell B, Sullivan DJ, Berriman M. (2009). Comparative genomics of the fungal pathogens Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans. Genome Research. 19:2231-2244.

5. Enjalbert B, Moran GP, Vaughan C, Yeomans T, MacCallum DM, Quinn J, Coleman DC, Brown AJ, Sullivan DJ. (2009). Genome-wide gene expression profiling and a forward genetic screen show that differential expression of the sodium ion transporter Ena21 contributes to the differential tolerance of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis to osmotic stress. Molecular Microbiology. 72:216-218.

6. Moran GP, MacCallum DM, Spiering MJ, Coleman DC, Sullivan DJ. (2007). Differential regulation of the transcriptional repressor NRG1 accounts for altered host cell interactions in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. Molecular Microbiology. 66:915-929.

Full CV

Personal Website

Staff Profile: Mary O’Donnell

Title: Senior Experimental Officer in Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control

Qualifications: R.D.N., FAETC., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Contact details:

Tel: +353 (01) 612 7269

Email: mary.odonnell@dental.tcd.ie

Administrative responsibilities:

  • Manager of Oral Biosciences Laboratory
  • Responsible for infection prevention and control and biological and chemical risk management

Teaching:

  • Microbiology and infection prevention and control
  • Biological safety

Research Interests:

 Control of microbial biofilm contamination in dental chair unit waterlines and suction systems

My main research interest focuses on the control of biofilms in dental chairs and associated water distribution networks. Dental chair units are universally prone to contamination with high densities of microorganisms, especially bacterial species. For the last 10 years I have been engaged in collaborative research with the Finnish dental chair manufacturer Planmeca (Helsinki, Finland) to develop practical solutions to dental unit biofilm. This resulted in the development of several novel dental chair units with integrated semi-automated or automated biofilm control systems. More recently, my research has focused on the application of the electrochemically-activated solution Ecasol for biofilm control. This research resulted in the development of fully automated, self-cleaning, large-scale systems capable of consistently maintaining dental unit supply and output water at better than drinking water quality simultaneously in hundreds of dental units. This work was undertaken in collaboration with the Irish safe water technology company Trustwater (Clonmel, County Tipperary). Current research includes the miniaturization of the large-scale systems for use with individual dental units.

Representative recent publications:

1. Coleman DC, O’Donnell MJ, Boyle M, Russell R. (2010). Microbial biofilm control within the dental clinic: reducing multiple risks. Journal of Infection Prevention. 192-11:198.

2. Boyle MA, O’Donnell MJ, Russell RJ, Coleman DC. (2010). Lack of cytotoxicity by Trustwater Ecasol™ used to maintain good quality dental unit waterline output water in keratinocyte monolayer and reconstituted human oral epithelial tissue models. Journal of Dentistry. 38:930-940.

3. Coleman DC, O’Donnell MJ, Shore AC, Russell RJ. (2009). Biofilm problems in dental unit water systems and its practical control. (2009). Journal of Applied Microbiology. 106:1424-1437

4. Donnell MJ, Boyle M, Swan J, Russell RJ, Coleman DC. (2009). A centralised, automated dental hospital water quality and biofilm management system using neutral Ecasol maintains dental unit waterline output at better than potable quality: a 2-year longitudinal study. Journal of Dentistry. 37:748-762.

5. Coleman DC, O’Donnell MJ, Shore AC, Swan J, Russell RJ. (2007). The role of manufacturers in reducing biofilms in dental chair waterlines. Journal of Dentistry. 35:701-711.

6. O’Donnell MJ, Shore AC, Russell RJ, Coleman DC. (2007). Optimisation of the long-term efficacy of dental chair waterline disinfection by the identification and rectification of factors associated with waterline disinfection failure. Journal of Dentistry. 35:438-451.

Full CV

Staff Profile: Anna Shore

Title: Clinical Lecturer in Microbiology

Qualifications: B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D.

Contact details:

Tel: +353 (01) 6127350

Email: anna.shore@dental.tcd.ie

Teaching:

  • Microbiology and infection control and prevention
  • Postgraduate (Ph.D.) research student supervision

Research Interests:

Molecular characterisation and epidemiological typing of staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS).

My main research interest involves the molecular characterisation of MRSA, MSSA and CoNS from hospitals, communities and animals in Ireland. Since the 1970s MRSA has been a major cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide and it contributes significantly to patient morbidity and mortality and to healthcare costs. The emergence of community-acquired MRSA, the zoonotic spread of MRSA and the ongoing burden of MSSA infections further complicate this problem. My work in this area focuses on the development and application of alternative molecular typing methods to improve differentiation and tracking of S. aureus clones in Ireland and the use of high-throughput technologies for screening of S. aureus populations. This has already resulted in the identification of emerging sub-populations of MRSA in Irish hospitals and in circulating community clones with enhanced virulence and/or antibiotic resistance. Coagulase-negative staphylococci are frequently associated with opportunistic human and veterinary infections and can co-colonise mucosal surfaces along with S. aureus. I am currently researching the role that CoNS play in enhancing the antibiotic resistance and virulence potential of S. aureus.

Controlling and preventing the spread of microorganisms in healthcare facilities.

Another research interest is the development of approaches that will help to prevent and control the spread of microorganisms in Irish hospitals. This research includes using novel decontamination strategies, improved screening and hand hygiene and the deployment of rapid detection methods. This has involved the successful development of novel, intelligent and fully automated cleaning systems for managing and controlling biofilms in dental chair unit and associated waterlines and water distribution networks. This technology is currently being investigated for its potential use for environmental decontamination in the hospital environment in collaboration with a major Dublin hospital.

Representative recent publications:

1. Shore AC, Rossney AS, Deasy EC, Brennan OM, Humphries H, Goering RV, Ehricht R, Monecke S, Coleman DC. Identification and molecular characterisation of ACME among ST22-methcillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-IV. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2011, 55: in press (epub ahead of print doi:10.1128/AAC.01756-10)

2. Shore AC, Brennan OM, Ehricht R, Monecke S, Schwarz S, Slickers P, Coleman DC. Identification and characterisation of the multidrug resistance gene cfr in a Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive ST8-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-IVa (USA300) isolates. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2010, 54(12):4978-84.

3. Shore AC, Rossney AS, Kinnevey PM, Brennan OM, Creamer E, Sherlock O, Dolan A, Cunney R, Sullivan DJ, Goering RV, Humphreys H, Coleman DC. Enhanced discrimination of highly clonal ST22-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus IV isolates achieved by combining spa, dru, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing data. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2010, 48(5):1839-1852.

4. Creamer E, Dolan A, Sherlock O, Thomas T, Walsh J, Moore J, Smyth E, O’Neill E, Shore AC, Sullivan D, Rossney AS, Cunney R, Coleman D, Humphreys H. The effect of rapid screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on the identification and earlier isolation of MRSA-positive patients. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2010, 31(4):374-381. PMID: 20184438.

5. Coleman DC, O’Donnell MJ, Shore AC, Russell RJ. Biofilm problems in dental unit water systems and its practical control. Journal of Applied Microbiology 2009, 106(5):1424-1437.

6. Shore AC, Rossney AS, O’Connell B, Herra CM, Sullivan DJ, Humphreys H, Coleman DC. Detection of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec-associated DNA segments in multiresistant methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and identification of Staphylococcus epidermidis ccrAB4 in both methicillin-resistant S. aureus and MSSA. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2008, 52(12):4407-4419.

7. Rossney AS, Shore AC, Morgan PM, Fitzgibbon MM, O’Connell B, Coleman DC. The emergence and importation of diverse genotypes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) harbouring the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene (pvl) reveal that pvl is a poor marker for community-acquired MRSA strains in Ireland. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2007, 45(8):2554-2563.

Full CV

Staff Profile: Garry JP Fleming

 

Title: Senior Lecturer

 

Qualifications: B.Sc., Ph.D., F.T.C.D.

Contact details: Tel: +353 (01) 612 7371

Email: garry.fleming@dental.tcd.ie

Administrative responsibilities:

  • Co-ordinate Dental Materials Science Teaching
  • BDA/Dentsply Student Clinician Award Representative

Teaching:

  • Lectures to second and third year Dental Science
  • Lectures to second year Dental Technology students
  • Lectures to DDentCh postgraduate students
  • Lectures to first year Dental Hygiene and Dental Nursing students

Research Interests:

Cracking the problem of premature failure of all-ceramic restorations.

The main theme of my research is improving the performance of all-ceramic restorations including porcelain laminate veneers, crowns and bridges. The research has employed in-vitro mechanical test to examine the clinical failure mode and fracture origin of all-ceramic restorations produced by different laboratory and machined fabrication. The performance of dental cements when employed in conjunction with dental ceramics is also an area of utmost importance and our research includes investigations into the corrosive potential of acid-base cements and the apparent strengthening.

Alternative research areas of interest extend to resin based composites, glass-ionomer restorative, biocompatibility concerns with dental materials and endodontic materials.

Representative recent publications:

1. Bhamra GS, Fleming GJP, Darvell BW. (2010). Influence of LED irradiance on flexural properties and Vickers Hardness of resin-based composite materials. Dental Materials 26:145-52.

2. Isgró G, Addison O, Fleming GJP. (2010). Stress induced deformation of a dental ceramic following adhesive cementation. Journal of Dental Research 89:87-90.

3. Fleming GJP, Addison O (2009). Adhesive cementation and the strengthening of all-ceramic dental restorations. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology 23:945-959.

4. Dowling AH, Fleming GJP. (2009). Are encapsulated anterior glass-ionomer restoratives better than their hand-mixed equivalents? Journal of Dentistry 37:133-140.Bhamra GS, Fleming GJP. (2009).

5. Influence of halogen irradiance on short- and long-term wear resistance of resin-based composite materials. Dental Materials 25:214-220.

6. Addison O, Marquis PM, Fleming GJP. (2008). Quantifying the strength of a resin-coated ceramic. Journal of Dental Research 87: 542-547.

Full CV