Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT\nSaliva is responsible for the formation of the acquired enamel pellicle (AEP), a protein\nintegument formed as a result of selective adsorption of salivary proteins to the enamel\nsurface. The AEP demonstrates an important role for modulating dental erosion as a\nresult of its physical properties, along with its salivary and exogenous protein\ncomposition (Chapter 2). In addition, individual proteins that comprise the AEP have\nimportant physiological functions. Histatin 5 (H5) has potent antifungal effect against C.\nalbicans, the yeast responsible for the initiation of oral candidiasis. We designed an in\nvitro model and found, for the first time, that H5 adhered in the form of pellicle retains its\nantifungal activity on C. albicans (Chapter 3). As a pellicle precursor protein, H5\ndemonstrates high affinity for hydroxyapatite, the primary mineral component of enamel.\nWe used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine adhesion forces between H5 and\nthe hydroxyapatite surface to be stronger compared to our protein control, albumin. This\nknowledge can be applied in the design of therapeutic proteins, and the methodology that\nwe developed can be used for measuring adhesion forces between various other proteins\nand substrates of interest (Chapter 4). Finally, with the development of proteomics\ninstruments, researchers have identified some protein biomarkers, hidden within salivary\nfluids. These can be used for diagnostic dentistry, in a clinical setting to identify patients’\nsusceptibility of developing oral diseases. In addition, the delivery proteins with\nantimicrobial properties via toothpastes or oral rinses can have tremendous therapeutic\npotential for a multitude of oral diseases (Chapter 5).
Author: Dusa Vukosavljevic
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2153418138