Date of Award

1-1-2019

Language

English

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School/Department

Department of Chemistry

Content Description

1 online resource (v, 64 pages) : color illustrations.

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Paul Toscano

Committee Members

Li Niu

Keywords

Human salivary proteome, Saliva, Saliva Diagnostic, Salivary biomarkers, Salivary proteins

Subject Categories

Biochemistry | Chemistry

Abstract

Saliva is a unique biologic fluid that contains a varying spectrum of proteins, nucleic acids, electrolytes, and hormones.31 It is an exocrine secretion of the salivary glands which is hypotonic in nature with a pH of 7.2-7.4.31 Saliva plays an important role in the oral cavity.33 It lubricates, hydrates, and bathes the oral cavity, therefore, aiding speech and mastication.33 Saliva forms a barrier on the teeth, protects against demineralization, and aids in remineralization.33 Saliva is required for chewing and food bolus preparation, it contains enzymes necessary for digestion, and mediates the sense of taste.33 It also helps wound healing and protects teeth and the oral cavity from attack by micro-organisms.33 Human saliva is considered a clinically informative, biological fluid that is useful for innovative approaches to prognosis, laboratory or clinical diagnosis, and monitoring and management of patients with both oral and systemic diseases.32 The collection and storage process of saliva is unchallenging and ideal for the early detection of disease as it contains specific soluble biological markers (biomarkers).32 The salivary proteome is described as a complete set of proteins which exist in a given moment in whole saliva present on the oral cavity independent of its origin.19 Human saliva contains a massive collection of proteins, each with distinct biological functions.2 Thus, proteins present in saliva not only play a role in maintaining general and oral health but may also serve as biological markers to survey normal health and disease status.16

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