Use of biomarkers in saliva to evaluate the toxicity of agents and the function of tissues in both biomedical and environmental applications

摘要

Sensitive methods using a variety of biomarkers in oral saliva of humans and animals to detect measure, and quantify the presence of infectious and non-infectious agents and the functional status of living tissues in both (1) biomedical and (2) environmental applications. With in vivo biomedical applications, saliva samples are taken from human and animals and biomarker, such as enzyme or antibody levels, are measured. The extent of exposure to an agents is measured by the presence of specific chemical or biological constituents, by the degree of enzymes inhibition, or by the changes in the amount of the biochemicals in saliva. With in vitro environmental applications, enzymes or other biochemicals from animal or human saliva can be used to monitor the presence of toxic or reactive agents in tissue samples, urine, feces, milk, air, water, soil, or plants. The amount of toxicant in samples is estimated from a standard curve for that agent.