Vuokko Loimaranta
vuokko.loimaranta@utu.fi +358 29 450 4172 +358 44 011 1746 Lemminkäisenkatu 2 Turku |
biochemistry of saliva, salivary immune functions, oral streptococci, bacterial adhesion
I have made my MSc in Biochemistry in 1993 and
obtained my PhD in 1999 in the University of Turku. For 2000-2002 I worked
as a Marie Curie Fellow in the University of Umeå. I returned back to University of Turku to work
as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and
Genetics and continued there as a University Teacher. In 2007-2008 I made a
short visit to industry and worked as a Visiting Scientist at Valio Ltd.
Adjunct professorship I received in 2008. Since 2018 I have worked as a Laboratory Manager at the Institute of Dentistry.
My research consists studies on the role of
saliva in the control of oral and oro-pharyngeal microbiota. Saliva contains a
plethora of components that regulate oral microbiota. Activity and amount of
these components differ between individuals. The main focus of our research is
on identification of the nature and functions of these molecules and exploring
their individual variations.
- Inhibition of Streptococcus suis adhesion by dendritic galabiose compounds at low nanomolar concentration (2004)
- Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Sensitivity of Helicobacter pylori to an innate defence mechanism, the lactoperoxidase system, in buffer and in human whole saliva (2004)
- Journal of Medical Microbiology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Susceptibility of Fusobacterium nucleatum to killing by peroxidase-iodide-hydrogen peroxide combination in buffer solution and in human whole saliva (2003)
- Anaerobe
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Lactoperoxidase inhibits glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus mutans in vitro (2002)
- Caries Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Stability and activity of specific antibodies against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in bovine milk fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG or treated at ultra-high temperature (2002)
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Saliva flow rate, amylase activity, and protein and electrolyte concentrations in saliva after acute alcohol consumption (2001)
- Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The sensitivity of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum to different (pseudo)halide-peroxidase combinations compared with mutans streptococci (2001)
- Journal of Medical Microbiology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Saliva and dental caries (2000)
- Advances in Dental Research
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Effects of bovine immune and non-immune whey preparations on the composition and pH response of human dental plaque (1999)
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Combined inhibitory effect of bovine immune whey and peroxidase-generated hypothiocyanite against glucose uptake by Streptococcus mutans (1998)
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Concentrated bovine colostral whey proteins from Streptococcus mutans/Strep sobrinus immunized cows inhibit the adherence of Strep mutans and promote the aggregation of mutans streptococci (1998)
- Journal of Dairy Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Generation of bioluminescent Streptococcus mutans and its usage in rapid analysis of the efficacy of antimicrobial compounds (1998)
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The effects of different (pseudo)halide substrates on peroxidase-mediated killing of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (1998) Ihalin R, Loimaranta V, Lenander-Lumikari M, Tenovuo J
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Combined inhibitory effect of fluoride and hypothiocyanite on the viability and glucose metabolism of Streptococcus mutans, serotype c (1997)
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Generation of bovine immune colostrum against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus and its effect on glucose uptake and extracellular polysaccharide formation by mutans streptococci (1997)
- Vaccine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)