About

Kabilan Velliyagounder is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Biology at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. His research primarily focuses on the antimicrobial effects of human lactoferrin against various oral microbes. He has successfully established experimentally induced models of periodontal disease, dental caries, oral candidiasis, and systemic infections caused by pathogens such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans in mice. His ongoing research explores the impact of iron deficiency anemia on oral diseases, including its effect on oral and fecal microbiomes, aiming to contribute to the understanding of the role of iron deficiency anemia in oral health and to develop novel prevention strategies. Additionally, he has identified naturally occurring organosulfur compounds with potential as alternative therapies for oral and systemic diseases. His educational background includes a BS in Botany, an MS in Botany, and an MA in Philosophy, all from Bharathiar University. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of the antimicrobial properties of lactoferrin and its derivatives, as well as the influence of iron deficiency on oral health.

Research topics

• Biology
• Medicine
• Materials science
• Internal medicine
• Dentistry
• Composite material
• Food science
• Intensive care medicine
• Immunology
• Bioinformatics
• Endocrinology
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology
• Chemistry

Selected publications

• Iron Deficiency Anemia and Its Impact on Oral Health—A Literature Review

  Dentistry Journal · 2024 · 14 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Intensive care medicine
  • Internal medicine

  Oral disease interventions primarily focus on behavioral changes like dietary improvements and ensuring better oral hygiene. However, recognizing the influence of biological factors, including genetics and early-life nutrition, is crucial. Iron deficiency (ID) and its advanced form, iron deficiency anemia (IDA), affect nearly two billion people globally, especially children and pregnant women. We conducted a comprehensive search using Medline via EndNote and Web of Science, employing keywords related to iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and we identified 36 studies deemed relevant for inclusion in this literature review. IDA prevalence is notably high among pregnant women and young children. Both IDA and early-childhood caries (ECC) disproportionately affect impoverished populations, highlighting the socioeconomic dimension of this issue. IDA presents with various oral mucosal changes and is closely linked to candidiasis. Additionally, IDA can hinder tooth development and weaken the immune response. Multiple population surveys have revealed a significant association between ECC and IDA. While some studies have explored the IDA-periodontal disease link, the current evidence is relatively limited in its robustness. In conclusion, more comprehensive longitudinal studies are essential to deepen our understanding of the IDA-oral disease connection. Investigating the underlying biological mechanisms is critical to developing effective interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations affected by IDA.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• An In Vivo Study on the Development of Bacterial Microbiome on Clear Orthodontic Retainer

  Dentistry Journal · 2022 · 4 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Dentistry
  • Medicine
  • Biology

  OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to see how the bacterial composition changes on clear orthodontic retainer over a 14-day period. METHODS: Saliva and plaque samples collected from a clear retainer surface were obtained from five healthy volunteers receiving retainer treatment. Prior to clear retainer delivery, patients had not been wearing any other appliances. Patients were instructed to wear their clear retainer for the 14-day period, taking them off to eat and to clean them with a soft-bristle toothbrush. The bacterial composition was determined via Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA. After bioinformatics processing using the QIIME pipeline, the intra- and intergroup biodiversity of the sample was analyzed. RESULTS: = 0.05) in the clear retainer when compared to saliva at 7 days. At the genus level, several microbiota were significantly increased in relative abundance in the clear retainer after the 14-day period. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal that the presence of a clear retainer in the mouth might lead to enamel changes or periodontal tissue destruction, especially after 14 days of use.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of human lactoferrin on Candida albicans infection and host response interactions in experimental oral candidiasis in mice

  Archives of Oral Biology · 2022 · 17 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Microbiology
  • Biology
  • Immunology
  PublisherDOI

• Effectiveness of Different Sterilization Methods on Clinical Orthodontic Materials

  The Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society · 2022 · 8 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Dentistry
  • Food science
  • Medicine

  Background Orthodontic appliances such as wires and brackets received from manufacturers come unsterilized and may be contaminated with various microorganisms before being used in the mouth. In this study, we evaluated and identified the bacterial contamination on orthodontic appliances along with the disinfecting efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) light and various sterilization methods. Methods Different orthodontic appliances were obtained from manufacturers divided into 5 sterilization methods and a control group (control, UV, dry heat and steam autoclave, ethyl alcohol, and 2% glutaraldehyde). Microbiological and DNA sequencing was performed on the appliances to identify the contaminated bacteria. Results Bacterial contamination identified on the orthodontic appliances were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Lactobacilli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus cereus. UV sterilization method effectively prevented the bacterial growth when compared to the control (unsterilized) orthodontic appliances. Conclusion We concluded that the orthodontic appliances received from the manufacturer showed bacterial contamination. All of the tested sterilization methods including UV light were effective in eliminating the bacterial contamination on the orthodontic appliances. Since UV light does not cause change in material properties and is cost effective with relative ease of use, its use in clinical practice for the disinfection of orthodontic appliances is suggested before placement in the mouth.

  PublisherDOI

• Review for "Streptococcus mutans in atherosclerotic plaque: molecular and immunohistochemical evaluations"

  2021-03-16

  peer-reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Review for "Streptococcus mutans in atherosclerotic plaque: molecular and immunohistochemical evaluations"

  2020-11-25

  peer-reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• The Microflora Diversity and Profiles in Dental Plaque Biofilms on Brackets and Tooth Surfaces of Orthodontic Patients

  The Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society · 2019-06-27 · 13 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Objective: Fixed orthodontic appliances may influence the oral environment through accumulation of plaque, decreased plaque pH, and increased gingival inflammation. These changes in the oral cavity can potentially lead to periodontal disease, demineralization, and other infectious diseases. Materials and Methods: To investigate the changes in biofilm throughout the initial 2 weeks, we placed a stainless steel bracket on the upper second premolar and collected plaque samples on the bracket and on the tooth surface at different time points (0, 24, 48 h and 1 and 2 weeks) and plated on tryptic soy agar blood agar plate, and kept at 37°C in an anaerobic chamber for 5 days to determine the CFUs of bacteria. At the end of 2 weeks, we removed the bracket and elastomeric module, and we isolated genomic DNA from the bacterial biofilm for identification of bacteria by 16S rRNA PCR analysis. We also analyzed the morphology of biofilm on the bracket by scanning electron microscope. Results: Our results show that the bacterial biofilm was significantly increased on the bracket in all the subjects, whereas on the tooth surface, the CFUs were not significantly increased. PCR assay showed that biofilm on orthodontic brackets from all subjects showed colonization by Streptococcus gordonii, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans were observed on some of the subjects after 48 h, whereas Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans biofilm was observed in all the time points except 24 h. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that both periodontal and cariogenic bacterial biofilms were formed on the bracket as early as 24 h.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The effect of iron deficiency anemia on experimental dental caries in mice

  Archives of Oral Biology · 2019-06-15 · 16 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• The effects of human lactoferrin in experimentally induced systemic candidiasis

  Journal of Medical Microbiology · 2019-11-08 · 10 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  -induced systemic infection.

  PublisherDOI

• Role of lactoferrin and lactoferrin‐derived peptides in oral and maxillofacial diseases

  Oral Diseases · 2018-04-15 · 24 citations

  review1st authorCorresponding

  The oral cavity harbors different taxonomic groups, the evolutionary coexistence of which develops the oral ecosystem. These resident microorganisms can alter the balance between the physiologic and pathologic conditions that affect the host, both locally and systemically. This highly sophisticated nature of the oral cavity poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Numerous human and animal studies have been conducted to potentiate the efficacy and competence of current treatments of pathologic conditions as well as to develop novel therapeutic modalities. One of these studies is the use of the potent antimicrobial agent lactoferrin (LF), which was originally derived from the host immune system. LF is an 80-kDa glycoprotein that has a free iron sequestration mechanism with evident antimicrobial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory properties. A wide range of active peptides have been isolated from the N-terminal region of LF, which possess antimicrobial activities. In this review, we discuss the role of LF and LF-derived peptides under a heterogeneous group of oral and maxillofacial conditions, including bacterial, fungal, viral infections; head and neck cancers; xerostomia; and implantology-bone-related manifestations.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Functions of Lactoferrin Polymorphisms in an Oral Infection

  NIH · $427k · 2010–2014

Frequent coauthors

• Daniel H. Fine

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  15 shared

• Kenneth Markowitz

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  8 shared

• David Furgang

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  7 shared

• Jeffrey B. Kaplan

  American University

  6 shared

• Senthil Kumar Velusamy

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  4 shared

• Siddhi Pawar

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  3 shared

• Chandran Ragunath

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  3 shared

• Anil Ardeshna

  American Association of Orthodontists

  3 shared

Education

• PhD, Center for Advanced Studies in Botany

  University of Madras

  1995

• M.PHIL, Botany

  Bharathiar University

  1990