Teaching Activities: Dr. Drake's teaching responsibilities include oral microbiology and immunology at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and research design at the graduate level.
Research Activities: Dr. Drake's current research interests can be divided into clinical/applied research and basic science.
He has been exploring for
some time now the synergistic effect of chlorhexidine and copper on Streptococcus mutans. Until recently,
he has focused
on laboratory models, including batch mixed culture and continuous (chemostat) culture, to assess the effect of exposure of
communities of oral bacteria to these compounds. The interest in the synergistic activity of these compounds, and their potential
to be used as preventive agents clinically, have led to the formation of a "Chlorhexidine Gel Research Group" in the UI College of
Dentistry, comprised of Dr. Drake, a Ph.D. pharmacist, two public health dental researchers, a pediatric dentist, and a physical chemist.
The group has recently conducted a clinical trial on the efficacy of our novel, flavored CHX gel formulations on high-caries-risk children
in Head Start programs and is working towards obtaining funding through NIDCR to support a major clinical trial on CHX-ion gels.
Dr. Drake's basic science interests currently are focused in three main areas: (1) expression of glucan-binding proteins of S. mutans grown
under continuous culture conditions, which more readily simulates the growth rates and environmental conditions of the oral cavity,
and the role of these proteins in mechanisms of bacterial adhesion and colonization of teeth; (2) development of microbial communities
associated with oral diseases in a mixed-culture chemostat system; and (3) utilization and transport mechanisms for iron by endodontic
and periodontal pathogens, such as Porphyromonas endodontalis and Prevotella intermedia.
National or International Professional Appointments or Activities:
Dr. Drake is a member of the NIDCR Special Grants Review Committee, current member of the American and International Associations for Dental Research, the American Society for Microbiology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
David R. Drake