Research

We investigate saliva, oral microbes, and evolution

Saliva helps protect teeth and oral tissues, shapes the microbes that live in the mouth, and supports digestion and host defense. At the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, we study how salivary proteins and glycans interact with microbes and oral surfaces, how different glands contribute to saliva, and how salivary protein genes have evolved across mammals and primates. Our work combines oral microbiology, glycobiology, protein analysis, and evolutionary genomics to understand the biological foundations of oral health. Explore our research areas below.