Jose A Lemos

Jose A Lemos, PhD

Professor

Department: DN-ORAL BIOLOGY
Business Phone: (352) 273-8843
Business Email: jlemos@dental.ufl.edu

About Jose A Lemos

José A. Lemos obtained his Ph.D. (Microbiology and Immunology) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 2000. He did postdoctoral research at the University of Rochester and later at the University of Florida. In 2003, he was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Florida. In 2007, he joined the faculty of the University of Rochester in the Center of Oral Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In 2015, he returned to the University of Florida College of Dentistry as part of the Preeminance hire initiative where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral Biology. His laboratory investigates the stress survival mechanisms of Firmicutes with a particular focus on S. mutans and Enterococcus faecalis.

Related Links:

Accomplishments

President-elect Microbiology and Immunology Group
2019-2020 · American Association for Dental Research
(BACP Study section) – Permanent
2017 · NIH/NIAID
(BACP Study section) – Temporary
2016 · NIH/NIAID
(ODCS study section) – Temporary
2016 · NIH/NIDCR
(PCMB Study section) – Temporary
2016 · NIH/NIAID
Co-organizer
2016 · 8th ASM Conference on Streptococcal Genetics, Washington D.C.
(DSR1 study section) – Temporary
2015 · NIH/NIDCR
Co-chair
2011 · Conference on Oral Biology: Post-genomics for the oral microbiome. Rochester, NY
Chair
2010 · Rochester Section of the American Association for Dental Research
Travel Fellowship Award
1999 · ASM Mini-course Molecular Aspects of Microbial Pathogenesis, Santiago de Chile (Chile)
Travel Fellowship Award
1998 · ASM Conference on Streptococcal Genetics, Vichy (France)
Postgraduate exchange fellowship
1997 · CAPES- Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2016-2025
DEN5127 Infectious Diseases
2018
MCB7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2018
GMS7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2016
DEN8290 Special Topics
2016
DEN6681 Craniofacial Pathobiology
2021-2024
GMS6162 Oral Microbiology and Immunology

Research Profile

My Laboratory investigates the molecular factors that mediate virulence in the opportunistic Gram-positive pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis. S. mutans is a major pathogen in dental caries and a leading causative agent of infective endocarditis. In S. mutans, our current efforts focus on the characterization of the oxidative stress regulator Spx, and its role in controlling stress responses and biofilm formation. The second S. mutans project focuses on the characterization of a collagen binding protein responsible for intracellular invasion of heart and oral tissues, a trait that is linked to increased virulence and, potentially, recurrent infection and chronic inflammation. The characterization of stress responses is also the theme of our research with E. faecalis, a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. In this project, we are investigating the interplay between regulatory nucleotides (i.e., ppGpp, c-di-AMP) with other prominent stress regulators and how these interactions influence the ability of E. faecalis to survive antibiotic stress and other adverse conditions.

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0003-0791-5863

Areas of Interest
  • Bacterial pathogenesis
  • Bacterial physiology
  • Biofilm
  • Dental caries
  • Enterococcus
  • Streptococcus
  • Stress responses

Publications

Academic Articles
2022
Quantitative Analysis of Biofilm Removal Following Instrumentation with TRUShape and Vortex Blue File Systems: Microbiological Study.
Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition). 14(3) [DOI] 10.31083/j.fbs1403018. [PMID] 36137981.
2022
The AdcACB/AdcAII system is essential for zinc homeostasis and an important contributor of Enterococcus faecalis virulence.
Virulence. 13(1):592-608 [DOI] 10.1080/21505594.2022.2056965. [PMID] 35341449.
2022
ZccE is a Novel P-type ATPase That Protects Streptococcus mutans Against Zinc Intoxication
PLOS Pathogens. 18(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010477. [PMID] 35939512.
2021
Detection of Streptococcus mutans in symptomatic and asymptomatic infected root canals.
Clinical oral investigations. 25(6):3535-3542 [DOI] 10.1007/s00784-020-03676-9. [PMID] 33170373.
2021
Increased Oxidative Stress Tolerance of a Spontaneously Occurring perR Gene Mutation in Streptococcus mutans UA159
Journal of Bacteriology. 203(8) [DOI] 10.1128/jb.00535-20.
2020
Regulatory circuits controlling Spx levels in Streptococcus mutans
Molecular Microbiology. 114(1):109-126 [DOI] 10.1111/mmi.14499. [PMID] 32189382.
2018
Manganese acquisition is essential for virulence of Enterococcus faecalis
PLOS Pathogens. 14(9) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007102. [PMID] 30235334.
2016
Simultaneous spatiotemporal mapping of in situ pH and bacterial activity within an intact 3D microcolony structure.
Scientific reports. 6 [DOI] 10.1038/srep32841. [PMID] 27604325.
Manganese acquisition is essential for virulence ofEnterococcus faecalis
. [DOI] 10.1101/323832.
Zinc Import Mediated by AdcABC is Critical for Colonization of the Dental Biofilm by Streptococcus mutans in an Animal Model
. [DOI] 10.1101/2021.01.22.427828.

Grants

Sep 2023 ACTIVE
Mechanisms of Metal Ion Homeostasis of Oral Streptococci
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Aug 2023 ACTIVE
Determination of structure-function relationships and role in virulence of a MerRtype regulator that mediates zinc tolerance in Streptococcus mutans
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Mar 2023 ACTIVE
Second Messenger Nucleotides of Enterococcus faecalis
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
Aug 2022 – Mar 2023
Second Messenger Nucleotides of Enterococcus faecalis
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
Jan 2022 – Dec 2023
Enterococcal metal binding proteins as therapeutic targets
Role: Other
Funding: AMER HEART ASSOCIATION
Jan 2022 – Dec 2023
Significance of iron homeostasis to the pathophysiology of Enterococcus faecalis during infective endocarditis
Role: Other
Funding: AMER HEART ASSOCIATION
Jul 2021 ACTIVE
Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jul 2021 ACTIVE
Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jun 2021 ACTIVE
to develop a protein-based enterococcal vaccine to prevent root canal failure
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: VAXCYTE
Jul 2019 ACTIVE
Intracellular Invasion by Streptococcus mutans: Significance in Disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
May 2018 – Apr 2021
Significance of metal homeostasis to bacterial pathogenesis in chronic wounds
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
Jan 2018 – Dec 2020
Regulatory Nucleotides of Enterococcus faecalis
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
Jul 2016 – Jun 2022
Role of the Spx Regulator in Streptococcus mutans
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jul 2016 – Jun 2021
Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jul 2016 – Jun 2021
Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jul 2016 – Jun 2018
Significance of manganese homeostasis to enterococcus faecalis systemic infections
Role: Other
Funding: AMER HEART ASSOCIATION
Aug 2015 – Mar 2019
Intracellular Invasion by Streptococcus mutans: Significance in Disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR

Education

Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology
2000 · Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology
1995 · Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
B.S. in Biology
1990 · Santa Ursula University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-8843
Emails:
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100424
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
DEPARTMENT OF ORAL BIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ORAL BIOLOGY
1395 CENTER DRIVE
GAINESVILLE FL 326100001