University of Rochester School of Medicine
Department of Microbiology & Immunology 
Faculty Profile

Ph.D. (1961)
Michigan

Robert E. Marquis
 Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and of Oral Biology

Primary Appointment:
 Microbiology & Immunology

GEBS Cluster Affiliations:
 Immunology, Microbiology, and Virology - IMV

Contact Information:
University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 672
Rochester, New York 14642		 Medical Center 2-6515A
Phone: (585) 275-1674
E-Mail: mutansst@aol.com
Research Focus
The physiology of oral pathogens involved in dental caries, especially Streptococcus mutans.
Research Overview
Specific projects include studies of effects of environmental stresses on oral streptococci, particularly acid stress and oxidative stress, and to a lesser extent, starvation stress. The major objective is to develop agents able to reduce the cariogenicity of dental plaque by reducing bacterial acidification or by selectively sensitizing pathogens to stress. We are also involved in a project on fitness profiling of mutants of Streptoccoccus mutans with a view to identifying specific target genes affecting the virulence of the organism. Biofilms are used extensively in our studies because dental plaque is a biofilm, and caries is considered to be a disease caused by biofilms. We work mostly with mono-species biofilms but also with mixed-species films and specifically tagged organisms.
Recent Publications
Sheng J, Nguyen PT, Baldeck JD, Olsson J, Marquis RE "Antimicrobial actions of benzimidazoles against the oral anaerobes Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia." Arch Oral Biol. 2006 Nov;51(11):1015-23
Sheng J, Marquis RE. "Malolactic fermentation by Streptococcus mutans." FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2007 May 8;
Phan TN, Marquis RE "Triclosan inhibition of membrane enzymes and glycolysis of Streptococcus mutans in suspensions and biofilms." Can J Microbiol. 2006 Oct;52(10):977-83
Sheng J, Marquis RE "Enhanced acid resistance of oral streptococci at lethal pH values associated with acid-tolerant catabolism and with ATP synthase activity." FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2006 Sep;262(1):93-98
Sheng J, Nguyen PT, Baldeck JD, Olsson J, Marquis RE "Antimicrobial actions of benzimidazoles against the oral anaerobes Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia." Arch Oral Biol. 2006 Jun 23
Koo H, Sheng J, Nguyen PT, Marquis RE.  "Co-operative inhibition by fluoride and zinc of glucosyl transferase production and polysaccharide synthesis by mutans streptococci in suspension cultures and biofilms." FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2006 Jan;254(1):134-40. 
Barboza-Silva E, Castro AC, Marquis RE.  "Mechanisms of inhibition by fluoride of urease activities of cell suspensions and biofilms of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus salivarius, Actinomyces naeslundii and of dental plaque." Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2005 Dec;20(6):323-32.
Duarte, S., P. L. Rosalen, et al.  "The influence of a novel propolis on mutans streptococci biofilms and caries development in rats." Arch Oral Biol. 2005.
Nguyen, P. T., J. D. Baldeck, et al. "Antimicrobial actions of benzimidazoles against oral streptococci." Oral Microbiol Immunol 20(2): 93-100, 2005.
Sheng, J., P. T. Nguyen, et al. "Multi-target antimicrobial actions of zinc against oral anaerobes." Arch Oral Biol 50(8): 747-57, 2005.
Marquis, R. E. "Applied and ecological aspects of oxidative-stress damage to bacterial spores and to oral microbes." Sci Prog 87(Pt 3): 153-77. 2004
Phan TN, Buckner T, Sheng J, Baldeck JD, Marquis RE. Physiologic actions of zinc related to inhibition of acid and alkali production by oral streptococci in suspensions and biofilms. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 19:31-8, 2004.

Publication list, as provided by PubMed.
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