Faculty Profile - Dr. Dennis Cvitkovitch

Dr. Dennis Cvitkovitch
Professor
Oral Microbiology
Biological & Diagnostic Sciences

Associate Dean of Research and Director of Dental Research Institute
Faculty of Dentistry

Professor
Institute of Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME)
University of Toronto

Rm 449A, Faculty of Dentistry
124 Edward Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5G 1G6

Telephone: 416-979-4917 x4592
Fax: 416-979-4936
d.cvitkovitch@dentistry.utoronto.ca

Current academic / hospital appointments

Professor and Associate Dean (Research)
Director, Dental Research Institute
Canada Research Chair in Biofilm Physiology and Genetics (2001-2011)

Education

• 1986 - B.Sc. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Major in Microbiology.
• 1989 - M.Sc. University of Manitoba, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
• 1995 - Ph.D. University of Manitoba, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
• 1995-1998 Post Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.
• 2004-2005 Visiting Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

Courses

Undergraduate: Oral Biology DEN121S (1st year D.D.S.), Oral Microbiology DENT206Y (2nd Year D.D.S.), Biomaterials Science, Course # JTC 1331H University of Toronto, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Microbial Physiology, Course # MBY434H University of Toronto, Medical Genetics and Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis, Course # LMP436 University of Toronto, Laboratory medicine and pathobiology.

Graduate/Postgraduate: Investigating Pathogenic Biofilms DEN 1022H, Experimental Methods in Caries Research, Course #1024S , Advances in Materials Science, Course #1070S

Research interests

My research interests focus on the role of the cell signaling mechanisms and the acid tolerance response of Streptococcus mutans, the principal agent of dental caries. Using a variety of molecular biological, biochemical and in silico technologies we are unraveling the mechanisms of cell-cell signaling and its role in biofilm formation and genetic exchange by gram positive pathogens. Ongoing collaborative programs also include the search for potential vaccine targets for Streptococcus pyogenes infections and the effects of dental restorative materials on bacterial growth and metabolism. Our work is also integrated with the University of Toronto Tissue Engineering Group focusing on the development of novel biomaterials resistant to bacterial infection.

Recent publications

• Matsui, R., Cvitkovitch, D. G. 2010. Acid tolerance mechanisms utilized by Streptococcus mutans. Future Microbiol. 2010. 5(3): p. 403-17.
• Kermanshahi, S., Santerre, J. P., Cvitkovitch, D. G., Finer, Y. 2010. Biodegradation of Resin-Dentin Interfaces Increases Bacterial Microleakage. J Dent Res, E pub 2010/05/28
• Krastel, K., Senadheera, D. B., Mair, R., Downey, J. S., Goodman, S. D., Cvitkovitch, D. G. 2010. Characterization of a glutamate transporter operon, glnQHMP, in Streptococcus mutans and its role in acid tolerance. J Bacteriol. 192(4): p. 984-93
• Lin, A.E., K. Krastel, R. I. Hobb, S.A. Thompson, D.G. Cvitkovitch, E.C. Gaynor. 2009. Atypical roles for Campylobacter jejuni AA-ABC transporter components PaqP and PaqQ in bacterial stress tolerance and pathogen-host cell dynamics, Infect. Immun. 77(11):4912-24. Epub 2009 Aug 24.
• Senadheera, D., K. Krastel, R. Mair, A. Persadmehr, J. Abranches, R. A. Burne, and D. G. Cvitkovitch. 2009. Inactivation of VicK affects acid production and acid survival of Streptococcus mutans. J. Bacteriol. 191(20):6415-24. Epub 2009 Aug 14.

For updated publication list see PubMed

Book Chapters:

J. A. Perry and D. G. Cvitkovitch. 2009. Autoinducer-2-regulated genes in Streptococcus mutans and impact on oral bacterial communities. Edited by Paul Kolenbrander, Genomic Inquiries into Oral Bacterial Communities. ASM press.

M. D. Senadheera and D. G. Cvitkovitch. 2008. Quorum sensing and biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans. Chapter in Bacterial Signal Transduction: Networks and Drug Targets. Edited by Ryutaro Utsumi for the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology series, volume 631, published by Landes Bioscience, New York, U.S.A.

M. D. Senadheera, F. Qi and D. G. Cvitkovitch. 2008. Quorum sensing in streptococci. Chapter in Control of biofilm infections by signal manipulation, volume 2, Edited by Naomi Balaban. Springer series on biofilms, Berlin-Heildelberg.

Awards and Honours

Recipient of Canada Research Chair 2001-2011

Students

• Iwona Wenderska Ph.D., 05/2011, Dentistry

• Maher Bourbia (co-supervised), M.Sc., 01/2011, Dentistry/IBBME

• Lida Sadeghinejad (co-supervised), PhD, 01/2011, Dentistry/IBBME

• Kamna Singh, Ph.D., 12/2010-, Dentistry

• Anca Serbanescu, Ph.D., 10/2009-, Dentistry

• Andrew Latos, M.Sc. 9/2009- Dentsitry

• Prashanth, Suntharalingam , Ph.D., 06/2002, Dentistry

* Presently not accepting students for supervision.

Current Research Grants

NIH-RO1DE13230 operating grant, 2007-2011
The competence regulon in Streptococcus mutans
Principal Investigator

NIH-RO1DE021385-01, 2010-2014
New composite material design based on studies of tooth-composite and microbial investigations
Co-investigator

MOP-15431 Canadian Institutes for Health, 2009-2015
Research operating grant
Acid tolerance of Streptococcus mutans
Principal Investigator

STP-53877 – Strategic Training Program, 2009-2015
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Cell signalling in mucosal inflammation and pain
Co-investigator

PRG-80141 Canadian Institutes for Health (CIHR), 2006-2011
Multi-user equipment for the molecular & cell biological analyses of signalling & signalling & extracellular matrix dynamics”
Co-Applicant