Department of Oral Biology University at Buffalo Foster Hall, Room 213A Buffalo, New York 14214-3092 Phone: (716) 829-6073 Fax: (716) 829-3942 shruhl@buffalo.edu
My laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms of initial bacterial attachment to teeth, tissue, or biomaterial surfaces in the mouth. We try to unravel the molecular mechanisms of how glycoproteins in saliva or on host cells are recognized by glycan-binding microbial adhesins. It is our long-term goal to better understand the modulating role of saliva in supporting colonization of the human oral cavity by a benign commensal microbiota, and in host defense against pathogenic microorganisms. More recently, our research involves the investigation of evolutionary mechanisms that have shaped host-microbial interactions in the human mouth.
A more detailed description of our current research activities can be found on the following website: www.ruhl-lab.org
Education and Training:
Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Universität Regensburg (2004)
Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Universität Regensburg (2000)
PhD, Dr. med. dent., Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Magna Cum Laude (1988)
AAAS Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2020)
IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Salivary Research (2020)
UB Exceptional Scholar Award for Sustained Achievement (2020)
Salivary Researcher of the Year Award (2015)
Omicron Kappa Upsilon, National Dental Honor Society (2014)
UB-SDM Society for the Advancement of Dental Research Award (2011)
WALKHOFF Award (2007)
WRIGLEY Award (2007)
Dentsply Award (2005)
Dentsply Award (1999)
CORSODYL Research Award (1998)
Poster Award, 17th International Lectin Conference (1997)
Poster Award, German Society for Operative Dentistry (1996)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, German Research Foundation (DFG) (1988)
Postgraduate Fellowship (GradFöG), Universität Göttingen (1985)
Research Expertise:
Bacterial adhesion to biomaterials
Evolution of saliva and salivary proteins
Glycobiology of microbial adhesion
Saliva proteomics
Professional Memberships:
International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health (ISEMPH) (2015–present)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2014–present)
American Society for Microbiology (ASM) (2013–present)
Central European Division of the IADR (CED) (2013–present)
Society for Glycobiology (2008–present)
Consortium for Functional Glycomics (2008–present)
American Association for Dental Research (AADR) (2008–present)
German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM); • Studygroup Glycobiology (1997–present)
International Association of Dental Research (IADR); , Salivary Research Group, Microbiology and Immunology Interest Group (1995–present)
German Society for Immunology (1995–present)
German Society of Dental, Oral, and Craniomandibular Sciences (DGZMK); • German Society for Operative Dentistry (DGZ) • German Society for Pediatric Dentistry and Prophylaxis (DGK) • Studygroup for Basic Science (AfG) (1995–present)
"Etiology and Risk Assessment for Dental Caries" Best Practices in UB School of Dental Medicine Clinics; School of Dental Medicine (2017)
"Salivary Glycoproteins as a First Line Oral Host Defense" American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting (2017)
"Diagnostic Potential of Bacterial Glycan Recognition at the Salivary Proteome - Oral Microbiome Interface" IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (2017)
"Sweet Spots at the Salivary Proteome - Oral Microbiome Interface" Invited Seminar Lecture; The Ohio State University; The Research Institute at Nationwide Children‘s Hospital (2016)
"Diagnostic Potential of Bacterial Glycan Recognition in Saliva" Invited Seminar Lecture; University of Rochester; Center for Oral Biology (2016)
"Human Lineage-Specific Footprints in the Salivary Proteome" Invited Seminar Lecture; The Forsyth Institute; The Forsyth Institute (2015)
"Sweet Spots at the Salivary Proteome - Oral Microbiome Interface" Invited Seminar Lecture; Boston University; Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (2015)
"Salivary Control of Oral Microflora" 47th Meeting of the Continental European Division of the IADR (CED-IADR) (2015)
"Diagnostic Potential of Bacterial Glycan Recognition in Saliva" International Symposium on Oral-Systemic Health "The Oral-Systemic Connection"; West China School of Stomatology (2015)
"The Salivary Proteome – Oral Microbiome Interface" Göttingen Spirit Summer School; University of Göttingen (2015)
"A Slippery Path to a Career in Oral Biology" UB BIO-STEM / CLIMB-UP Scientific Discovery Series; University at Buffalo (2015)
"Mining the Oral Microbiome for Novel Glycan-Binding Molecules" NIH Common Fund Glycoscience Kick-off Meeting; NIH (2015)
"Activation of host neutrophils through sialic acid binding by Streptococcus gordonii" IADR General Session & Exhibition; IADR (2015)
"Human lineage-specific traits in the salivary proteome" Inaugural Meeting of the International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health; International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health (2015)
"Salivary Control of Oral Microflora" IADR General Session; IADR; Unilever Oral Care Sponsored Symposium "Saliva – Natural Defence for the Oral Cavity" (2015)
"Human Lineage-Specific Traits in the Salivary Proteome" Gordon Research Conference "Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology; Gordon Research Conferences (2015)
"The Magical Properties of Spit" Biosciences Lecture (UB iSEED Recruitment); SUNY Geneseo (2014)
"A Slippery Path to a Career in Oral Biology" UB BIO-STEM / CLIMB-UP Scientific Discovery Series (2014)
"Human Lineage Specific Traits in the Salivary Proteome" IADR General Session & Exhibition; IADR (2014)
"The Diagnostic Potential of Bacterial Glycan Recognition in Saliva" 2013 SPIE DSS (Defense + Security, Sensing + Technology) Meeting (2014)
"Keynote: Studies on the Salivary Proteome - Oral Microbiome Interface" 43rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the AADR; AADR; Salivary Research Group (2014)
"The Salivary Proteome - Oral Microbiome Interface" Invited Seminar Lecture; University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry (2013)
"How I Became a Research Scientist" UB BioSTEM Lecture Series - CLIMB UP (2013)
"The Salivary Proteome - Oral Microbiome Interface" 50th Anniversary, UB Oral Biology Graduate Program (2013)
"The Importance of Saliva for a Healthy Mouth" UB Discovery Seminar - Oral Biology; University at Buffalo (2013)
"How does the Salivary Proteome Modulate Bacterial Adhesion?" Bagel Talk, University of Rochester, Center for Oral Biology; University of Rochester; URMC - Center for Oral Biology (2012)
"The Importance of Saliva for a Healthy Mouth - from a Glycobiologist's Perspective" SACNAS National Conference; SACNAS (2012)
"New Aspects in Cariology" UB SDM Back-to-School Conference; ; Pediatric Dentistry (2012)
"Binding between Human Salivary Components and Staphylococcus aureus" 41st Annual Meeting of the AADR; AADR (2012)
"Control of Oral Biofilm Formation on Biomaterials" UB Department of Chemistry (2012)
"Control of Oral Biofilm Formation on Biomaterials" UB Integrated Nanoscience Workshop (2012)
"How Saliva Mediates Bacterial Adhesion" The New Jersey Dental School (2011)
"The Importance of Saliva for the Dentist" UB-SDM Continuing Education (2011)
"It's in the Spit:: The Diagnostic Potential of Saliva" Buffalo Niagara Dental Meeting (2009)
"The Diagnostic Potential of Saliva" Continuing Dental Education; UB School of Dental Medicine (2008)
"A proteomics-based search for bacterial recognition sites in human saliva" Invited lecture, Department of Microbiology and Immunology; University at Buffalo; Department of Microbiology and Immunology (2008)
"A proteomics-based search for bacterial recognition sites in human saliva" Rochester Oral Biology Research Conference (2008)
"Bakterielle Erkennungsstrukturen im menschlichen Speichelproteom" Invited lecture, Medical Faculty, University of Gottingen, Germany; University of Gottingen (2007)
"Das menschliche Speichelproteom als Grundlage fur zukunftige Diagnostik" Deutscher Zahnarztetag 2007 (2007)
"Kinderzahnheilkunde und Alterszahnmedizin - Ein Gegensatz" Invited lecture, Medical Faculty, University of Gottingen, Germany; University of Gottingen; Medical Faculty (2007)
"Sticky spots in spit - a proteomics-based search for bacterial recognition sites in human saliva" Invited Lecture, Umea University, Sweden; Umea University; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (2006)
"Adsorption of proteins and attachment of bacteria to biomaterial surfaces" International Symposium Material - Tissue Interactions (2006)
"The importance of saliva" Visit of the Academia Conservativa Italiana; University of Regensburg (2006)
"Spot Spitting and Spit Spotting: A Proteomics-Based Search for Functional Aspects in Saliva" Invited lecture; University of Buffalo; Department of Oral Biology (2006)
"Wissenswertes fur den Zahnarzt uber Speichel" Workshop: Speichel - "ein ganz besonderer Saft"; ; Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Zahnerhaltung (2006)
"Adsorption von Proteinen und Adhasion von Bakterien auf Modelloberflachen und klinischen Werkstoffen" Medizinische Fakultat; Universitat Regensburg (2005)
"Adhasion von Bakterien auf Oberflachen zahnarztlicher Werkstoffe" Symposium der Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Grundlagenforschung in der DGZMK (2005)
"Bedeutung des Speichels fur ein gesundes Mundmillieu" Klinischer Arbeitskreis im Qualitatszirkel des ZBV Oberpfalz (2005)
"Bestandteile des menschlichen Speichels und ihre Bedeutung" Institut fur Physikalische und Theroetische Chemie; Universitat Regensburg (2005)
"Speichel-'ein ganz besonderer Saft" Medizinische Fakultat; Universitat Leipzig (2005)
"Der Speichel als diagnostische Flussigkeit" Medizinische Facultat; Universitat Regensburg (2003)
"Speichel als diagnostische Flussigkeit" 2.Regionalkonferenz des Vereins zur Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Zahnheilkunde in Bayern; Kloster Seeon (2003)
"Adhasin-vermittelte Interaktionen oraler Midroorganismen mit Strukturen der Mundhohle" Institut fur Medizinische Mikrobiologie; Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena (2003)
"Grundlagen und Stategien zahnarztlicher Prophylaxe" Klinischer Arbeitskreis im Qualitatszirkel des ZBV Oberpfalz (2003)
"Prophylaxe, mehr als nur Einfarben. Individualprophylaxe-Theorie und Praxis" 43. Bayerischer Zahnarztetag (2002)
"Proteine und Glykoproteine im Speichel: Funktionen und mogliche klinische Bedeutung" Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferklinik; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen (2001)
"Der Speichel als eine diagnostische Flussigkeit" Zentrum fur Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn (2001)
"Bleichung von Zahnen: Moglichkeiten und Grenzen" Klinischer Arbeitskreis im Qualitatszirkel des ZBV Oberpfalz (2001)
"Adhasin-vermittelte Interaktionen oraler Mikroorganismen mit Strukturen der Mundhohle" Zentrum fur Biomaterialien an der Universitat Regensburg (2001)
"Adhasin-vermittelte Interaktionen von oralen Bakterien mit Strukturen der Mundhohle" Medizinische Fakultat; Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule (2001)
"Salivary Proteins and Glycoproteins: Interactions with the Oral Microbial Flora and Possible Clinical Relevance" Oral Infection and Community Branch; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH (2000)
"Kinderbehandlung: Milchzahnendodontie" Klinischer Arbeitskreis im Qualitatszirkel des ZBV Oberpfalz (1998)
"Proteine und Glykoproteine im Speichel: Funktion und klinische Relevanz" 39. Bayerischer Zahnarztetag 1998 (1998)
"Role of Sialic Acids in the Adhesion of Oral Bacteria" Sialinsaure-Workshop; Biochemisches Institute, Christian-Albrechts-Universitat zu Kiel; Gesellschaft zur Erforschung der Sialinsauren e.V. (1997)
"Salivary and Cell Surface Glycoprotein Receptors for Oral Bacterial Lectins as Mediators of Host-Microbial Interactions" ERGOB Meeting 1996 (1996)
"Nomenklatur, Atiologie und Pthogenese der marginalen Parodontopathien" 3. Zliner Zhnarztetag (1996)
"Lektin-vermittelte Interaktion von oralen Bakterien mit granulozytaren Glykoproteinrezeptoren" Mikroibiologisch-Immunologisches Kolloquium; Hygiene-Institut der Universitat Gottingen (1995)
"Bacterial Lectin-Receptors on Human Granulocytes" The Procter & Gamble Company; Worldwide Clinical Investigation - Oral; Regulatory and Clinical Development (1994)
"Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Receptors for Oral Bacterial Lectins" Research Center in Oral Biology; University of Pennsylvania (1994)
"Leukosialin: A Granulocyte Receptor for Streptococcal and Actinomyces Lectins" NIH-Interinstitute Glycobiology Interest Group; National Institutes of Health (1994)
"Regulation of IL-2 Receptor Expression on Differentiating Macrophages" Forsyth Dental Center (1991)
"Regulation von Interleukin-2 Receptoren vahrend der Makrophagen-Differnzierung" Mikrobiologisch-Immunologisches Kolloquium; Hygiene-Institut der Universitat Gottingen (1991)
"The Interleukin-2 Receptor on Haematopoietic Cells" Laboratory of Immunology; National Institute of Dental Research, NIH (1991)
"Der Interleukin-2 Rezeptor und seine Rolle im Prozeb der Differenzierung myeloider Zellen" Poliklinik fur Zahnarztliche Chirurgie U. Parodontologie; Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen (1989)
Journal of Dental Research; Editorial Board Member (2020–present)
Symposium "Preventing Oral Disease at the Intersection of Microbiome and Salivary Proteome"; Chair (2017)
GRC Session "Functional Relevance of Mucins and Salivary Proteins"; Chair (2017)
Gordon Research Conference on Salivary Glands & Exocrine Secretions; Vice-Chair (2017)
Clinical Oral Investigations; Editorial Board Member (2017–present)
National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); 2017/01 Council DSR 1;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2016)
Buffalo Symposium "Innovations and Controversies in Oral Health...Connecting the Dots from Research to Practice"; Chair (2016)
School of Dental Medicine, Student Research and Honors Committee; Chair (2015–2018)
National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); Scientific Review Group 2015/05 ZDE1 JR (11) B (small business grants);; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2015)
IADR Symposium "Salivary Secretion of the Developing Gland"; Chair (2015)
PPBS Steering Committee; Member (2015–2019)
Institute for the Strategic Enhancement of Educational Diversity (iSEED); Member (2015–2019)
UB SDM Dean Search Committee; Member (2015–2016)
Oral Biology Ph.D. Program; Chair (2015–present)
The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw); The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw);; External Reviewer (2014)
Past President, IADR Salivary Research Group; Past President (2014–2015)
German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG);; External Reviewer (2014)
Organizer and Chair: IADR Salivary Research Group Business Meeting, Cape Town, SA; Chair (2014)
IADR Symposium: Current Updates on Dry Mouth Diagnosis and Management: Where Are We?; Chair (2014)
German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG);; External Reviewer (2014)
Faculty Search Committee; Member (2014–2015)
Reaccreditation (CODA) Biomedical Sciences Committee; Member (2014–present)
Reaccrediation (CODA)Research Self-Study; Member (2014–present)
German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG);; External Reviewer (2013)
IADR/AADR Salivary Research Group; President (2013–2014)
IADR Symposium: Novel Approaches to Functional Regeneration of the Salivary Gland; Chair (2013)
Organizer: IADR Symposium "Novel Approaches to Functional Regeneration of the Salivary Gland"; Coordinator (2013)
Resarch Panel, UB Pre-Health Symposium; Panel Member (2013)
Research Panel, UB Prehealth Symposium; Panel Member (2013)
NIDCR; Special Emphasis Panel, Molecular Characterization of Salivary Gland Tumor;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2012)
IADR/AADR Salivary Research Group; Vice President (2012–2013)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Special Emphasis Panel NIDCR, Functional Restoration of Salivary Glands;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2012)
AADR Saliva in Health and Disease; Chair (2012)
AADR Oral Biology (Seq. #38); Chair (2010)
AADR Fellowship Committee; Member (2010–2014)
AADR/IADR Salivary Research Group; Committee Member (2010–2012)
Organizer of the Department's Seminar Series in Oral Biology Seminar; Coordinator (2009–2012)
School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, D.D.S./Ph.D.; Member (2009–2014)
School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, D.D.S./Ph.D.; Director (2009–present)
School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Admissions; Member (2009–present)
Salivary Research, Keynote Address and Normal Homeostasis; Co-Chair (2008)
Saliva - Biomarkers / Structure and Function Rochester Oral Biology Research Conference; Co-Chair (2008)
School of Dental Medicine, Student Research and Honors Committee; Chair (2008–2018)
IGPBS Admission Committee; Alternate Member (2008–2009)
Symposium "Saliva - Diagnostic Medium of the Future" Annual meeting of the German Dental Association, November 22, Dusseldorf, Germany; Chair (2007–2008)
School of Dental Medicine, Admissions Committee; Member (2007–2013)
Study Group of Basic Sciences AfG, DGZMK, Mainz, Germany; Chair (2006)
Adherence/Adhesion (Seqq. #301.0) 83rd General Session and Exhibition of the International, American and Canadian Associations for Dental Research, Baltimore, MD; Chair (2005)
Editorial Board of the Journal of Dental Research; Editorial Board Member (2005–2007)
Committee for Therapeutical Drugs; Member (2005–2007)
Study Group of Basic Sciences AfG, DGZMK, Mainz, Germany; Chair (2005)
Training for University Teachers in Pediatric Dentistry Germany; Chair (2004)
Gingival Overgrowth (Seq. #254) 81st General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, Goteborg, Sweden; Chair (2003)
Study Group of Basic Sciences Scientific Program, AfG, DFZMK, Hannover, Germany; Chair (2002)
6th European Symposium on Saliva, Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands; Chair (2002)
Mechanism of Secretion/Protein Expression (Seq. #45), 80th General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, San Diego, CA; Chair (2002)
Oral Biology of the Child, 8 Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft fur Kinderzahnheilkunde und primarprophyaxe (GKP) in der DGZMK; Chair (2001)
Board of Examiners Final exam for D.D.S. degree; Board Member (2001–2007)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); 2 Reviews;; External Reviewer (2000–2007)
Salivary Proteins/Molecules (Seq. #45) 77th General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, Vancouver, Canada; Chair (1999)
German Research Foundation (DFG) Two article reviews; External Reviewer (1995–2007)
Review Activities Reviewer for the Following Scientific Journals: Clinical Oral Investigation Deutsche Zahnarztliche Zeitschrift Journal of Dental Research European Journal of Oral Sciences Archives of Oral Biology Oral Diseases Caries Research Anatomia Histologia Embryologia J. of Veterinary Medicine Proteomics Planta Medica-Natural Products and Medicinal Plant Research Journal of Pharmacological Sciences Oral Biosciences and Medicine Biomacromolecules Drug Discovery Today Immunological Investigations Journal of Anatomy Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Journal of Proteome Research; Reviewer (1995–present)
Department of Oral Biology University at Buffalo Foster Hall, Room 213A Buffalo, New York 14214-3092 Phone: (716) 829-6073 Fax: (716) 829-3942 shruhl@buffalo.edu