Saliva exerts multiple functions in relation to the initial digestive processes taking place in
the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Ingestion of food and beverages, in turn, is a …

The acquired enamel pellicle is an organic film covering the surfaces of teeth. When this film
was first discovered, it was thought to be of embryologic origin. Only in the middle of this …

Objectives To provide an update on our current understanding of how saliva and its various
constituents directly and indirectly affect oral bacteria and thereby play a role in the …

This paper describes several salivary components and their distribution in other mucosal
secretions. Histatins are polypeptides which possess exceptional anti-fungal and anti …

Candida albicans is frequently isolated from the human mouth, yet few carriers develop
clinical signs of candidiasis. Oral candidiasis presents clinically in many forms. This reflects …

Mucus forms a protective coating on wet epithelial surfaces throughout the body that houses
the microbiota and plays a key role in host defense. Mucins, the primary structural …

One of the greatest challenges in life sciences and biomaterials research is adhesion of
biomolecules and bacteria to solid surfaces in aqueous solutions. An example concerning …

Saliva is thought to have a significant impact on the colonization of microorganisms in the
oral cavity. Salivary components may participate in this process by one of four general …

The proteome of whole saliva, in contrast to that of serum, is highly susceptible to a variety of
physiological and biochemical processes. First, salivary protein secretion is under …

Transglutaminases catalyze the posttranslational modification of proteins referred to as the
R-glutaminyl peptide. airhc y glulur~~ yl transferase reaction (EC 2.3. 2.13). which leads to …