Biting midges of the genus Culicoides transmit pathogens of veterinary importance such as bluetongue virus (Reoviridae: Orbivirus). The saliva of Culicoides is known to contain bioactive molecules including peptides and proteins with vasodilatory and immunomodulative properties. In this study, we detected activity of enzyme hyaluronidase in six Culicoides species that commonly occur in Europe and that are putative vectors of arboviruses. Hyaluronidase was present in all species studied, although its molecular size, sensitivity to SDS, and substrate specificity differed between species. Further studies on the potential effect of hyaluronidase activity on the vector competence of Culicoides species for arboviruses would be beneficial.

• Keywords
• Culicoides, hyaluronidase, saliva,
• MeSH
• Arbovirus Infections transmission   MeSH
• Ceratopogonidae enzymology   MeSH
• Insect Vectors enzymology   MeSH
• Hyaluronoglucosaminidase metabolism   MeSH
• Saliva enzymology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hyaluronoglucosaminidase MeSH

This study investigated methods for sampling bile acids in saliva, a potential non-invasive diagnostic biofluid. Bile acids have been implicated in causing damage and permanent changes to the esophageal mucosa and increasing the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, a condition that can potentially progress to esophageal cancer. Three saliva collection methods were compared: spitting, Salivette® swabs, and Salivette Cortisol® swabs. Spitting emerged as the superior method with the highest recoveries and the least interference, likely due to Salivette swabs retaining bile acids or introducing unknown interferences. All saliva samples were analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS using the Zorbax RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 column (3 × 50 mm, 1.8 µm) in gradient elution of 0.1 % formic acid in water and methanol. Saliva sample stability was assessed over 14 days, reflecting typical storage times. The levels of detected bile acids were stable for the measured period (RSD ≤ 22 %) and no degradation was observed. Bile acid levels in saliva fluctuated throughout the day, with the greatest changes observed for glycine-conjugated bile acids after meals. To minimize sampling variability, saliva collection by spitting after overnight fasting is recommended for future studies. Our findings are applicable for standardized bile acid sampling and are currently applied in a large clinical study evaluating bile acids as potential susceptibility markers for Barrett's esophagus diagnostics.

• Keywords
• Barrett's esophagus, Bile acids, Reflux disease, Saliva, Saliva sampling methods,
• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Specimen Handling methods   MeSH
• Saliva * chemistry   MeSH
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry * methods   MeSH
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid methods   MeSH
• Bile Acids and Salts * analysis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bile Acids and Salts * MeSH

UNLABELLED: Next generation sequencing and proteomics have helped to comprehensively characterize gene expression in tick salivary glands at both the transcriptome and the proteome level. Functional data are, however, lacking. Given that tick salivary secretions are critical to the success of the tick transmission lifecycle and, as a consequence, for host colonization by the pathogens they spread, we thoroughly review here the literature on the known interactions between tick saliva (or tick salivary gland extracts) and the innate and adaptive vertebrate immune system. The information is intended to serve as a reference for functional characterization of the numerous genes and proteins expressed in tick salivary glands with an ultimate goal to develop novel vector and pathogen control strategies. SIGNIFICANCE: We overview all the known interactions of tick saliva with the vertebrate immune system. The provided information is important, given the recent developments in high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of gene expression in tick salivary glands, since it may serve as a guideline for the functional characterization of the numerous newly-discovered genes expressed in tick salivary glands.

• Keywords
• Adaptive immunity, Innate immunity, Saliva, Salivary glands, Tick,
• MeSH
• Insect Proteins immunology   MeSH
• Host-Parasite Interactions immunology   MeSH
• Ticks immunology   MeSH
• Models, Immunological MeSH
• Immunity, Innate immunology   MeSH
• Saliva immunology   metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Insect Proteins MeSH

Introduction: We developed a new simple method to assess the composition of proteinaceous components in the saliva of Ornithodoros moubata, the main vehicle for pathogen transmission and a likely source of bioactive molecules acting at the tick-vertebrate host interface. To collect naturally expectorated saliva from the ticks we employed an artificial membrane feeding technique using a simple, chemically defined diet containing phagostimulants and submitted native saliva samples collected in this way for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. These experiments were conducted with groups of uninfected ticks as well as with O. moubata infected with B. duttonii. The ticks exhibited a fair feeding response to the tested diet with engorgement rates reaching as high as 60-100% of ticks per feeding chamber. The LC-MS analysis identified a total of 17 and 15 proteins in saliva samples from the uninfected and infected O. moubata nymphs, respectively. Importantly, the analysis was sensitive enough to detect up to 9 different proteins in the samples of saliva containing diet upon which as few as 6 nymphal ticks fed during the experiments. Some of the proteins recognized in the analysis are well known for their immunomodulatory activity in a vertebrate host, whereas others are primarily thought of as structural or "housekeeping" proteins and their finding in the naturally expectorated tick saliva confirms that they can be secreted and might serve some functions at the tick-host interface. Most notably, some of the proteins that have long been suspected for their importance in the vector-pathogen interactions of Borrelia spirochetes were detected only in the samples from infected ticks, suggesting that their expression was altered by the persistent colonization of the tick's salivary glands by spirochetes. The simple method described herein is an important addition to the toolbox available to study the vector-host-pathogen interactions in the rapidly feeding soft ticks.

• Keywords
• Borrelia duttonii, LC-MS analysis, Ornithodoros moubata, artificial membrane feeding, infected, relapsing fever spirochetes, saliva, tick,
• MeSH
• Argasidae * MeSH
• Borrelia * physiology   MeSH
• Ornithodoros * MeSH
• Saliva MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

• Keywords
• AMINOPYRINE/pharmacology *, PENICILLIN/pharmacology *, SALIVA/chemistry *,
• MeSH
• Aminopyrine pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Penicillins pharmacology   MeSH
• Saliva chemistry   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aminopyrine MeSH
• Penicillins MeSH

• Keywords
• CHLORTETRACYCLINE *, OXYTETRACYCLINE *, SALIVA *, TETRACYCLINE *,
• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
• Chlortetracycline * MeSH
• Oxytetracycline * MeSH
• Saliva * MeSH
• Tetracycline * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
• Chlortetracycline * MeSH
• Oxytetracycline * MeSH
• Tetracycline * MeSH

This review summarizes and critically evaluates the published approaches and recent trends in sample pre-treatment, as well as both separation and non-separation techniques used for the determination of uric acid (UA) in saliva. UA is the final product of purine nucleotide catabolism in humans. UA concentrations in biological fluids such as serum, plasma, and urine represent an important biomarker of diseases including gout, hyperuricemia, or disorders associated with oxidative stress. Previous studies reported correlation between UA concentrations detected in saliva and in the blood. The interest in UA has been increasing during the past 20 years from a single publication in 2000 to 34 papers in 2019 according to MEDLINE search using term "uric acid in saliva". The evaluation of salivary UA levels can contribute to non-invasive diagnosis of many serious diseases. Increased salivary UA concentration is associated with cancer, HIV, gout, and hypertension. In contrast, low UA levels are associated with Alzheimer disease, progression of multiple sclerosis, and mild cognitive impairment.

• Keywords
• bioanalysis, biosensors, liquid chromatography, saliva, uric acid,
• MeSH
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Gout MeSH
• Hyperuricemia diagnosis   MeSH
• Uric Acid analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Saliva MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Uric Acid MeSH

BACKGROUND: This is a review of current knowledge on the use of saliva, gingival cervical fluid and mucosal transudate in the detection of some oral and systemic diseases as well as drugs. Oral fluid is a diagnostic medium that can be easily collected and with minimal invasion but it has been neglected in the past. Today, saliva is being used more often to diagnose: HIV virus, oro-facial and systemic tumors, cardiovascular disease and in detecting addictive substances. Neutropil levels in saliva may also indicate successful bone marrow transplant. Oral fluid is now systematically being researched and oral fluid analysis is being compared with the analysis of other diagnostic media such as blood and urine. A number of recent studies have focused on oncogenic marker detection and its monitoring in saliva. The latest clinical and laboratory findings on diagnostic markers of oropharyngeal carcinoma in oral fluid could be the beginning of their wider use as a diagnostic medium. Oral fluid can also be also used to diagnose other malignancies such as breast cancer which was one of the first malignant tumors to be detected using genetic protein biomarkers. Raised levels of CA15-3 and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor have been found in patients with breast cancer and elevated levels of CA 125 and the glycoprotein complex in the saliva of ovarian cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Doubtless, the diagnostic value of saliva, aided by current technological development will increase rapidly in the near future.

• MeSH
• Biomarkers analysis   MeSH
• Infections diagnosis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasms diagnosis   MeSH
• Substance Abuse Detection MeSH
• Saliva chemistry   cytology   physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH

Teeth have been a focus of interest for many centuries--due to medical problems with them. They are the hardest part of the human body and are composed of three mineralized parts--enamel, dentin and cementum, together with the soft pulp. However, saliva also has a significant impact on tooth quality. Proteomic research of human teeth is now accelerating, and it includes all parts of the tooth. Some methodological problems still need to be overcome in this research field--mainly connected with calcified tissues. This review will provide an overview of the current state of research with focus on the individual parts of the tooth and pellicle layer as well as saliva. These proteomic results can help not only stomatology in terms of early diagnosis, identifying risk factors, and systematic control.

• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Proteome metabolism   MeSH
• Proteomics methods   MeSH
• Saliva metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Profiling methods   MeSH
• Tissue Distribution MeSH
• Tooth metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Proteome MeSH

Tick-borne diseases pose a global medical problem. As transmission of tick-borne pathogens to their hosts occurs during tick feeding, development of vaccines thwarting this process could potentially prevent transmission of multiple tick-borne pathogens. The idea of tick vaccines is based on the phenomenon of acquired tick immunity, rejection of ticks feeding on hosts which were repeatedly infested by ticks. Recently, we demonstrated that saliva of the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis, which is the main vector of tick-borne pathogens in northeast USA, is sufficient for induction of tick immunity in the guinea pig model and that immunity directed against tick glycoproteins is important in this phenomenon. Nevertheless, immunity elicited against individual tick salivary antigens, which have been identified and tested so far, provided only modest tick rejection. We therefore now tested fractions of tick saliva produced by liquid chromatography for their ability to induce tick immunity in the guinea pig model. Immunization with all individual fractions elicited antibodies that reacted with tick saliva, however only some fractions displayed the ability to induce robust protective tick immunity. Mass spectrometry analysis led to identification of 24 proteins present only in saliva fractions which were able to induce tick immunity, suggesting suitable candidates for development of a tick vaccine.

• Keywords
• Fractionation, Ixodes scapularis, Saliva, Sialome, Tick, Vaccine,
• MeSH
• Chromatography, Liquid MeSH
• Glycoproteins MeSH
• Ixodes * MeSH
• Guinea Pigs MeSH
• Saliva MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Guinea Pigs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Glycoproteins MeSH