GUEST EDITORIAL

Salivaomics: An Emerging Approach in Dentistry

Zohaib Khurshid1

BDS, MRes

Shariq Najeeb2

BDS, MSc

Rabia Sannam Khan3

BDS, MSc

Muhammad Sohail Zafar4

BDS, MSc, PhD

contamination, patients comfortibility, better patients

compliance, screening of large populations and no cultural or
religious issues are in credit of saliva biofluid sampling11.

INTRODUCTION

mic science brings a new discipline in medical and

dental sciences by viewing the molecules that make up
a cell, tissue or an organism1. The term salivaomics
was coined in 2008 to reflect the rapid development of
knowledge about the various omics constituents of saliva2.
Omic science has a number of applications not only to
understanding of normal physiology but also pathology of
various diseases. This technology detected biological samples
on different levels such as genomics (genes), transcriptomics
(mRNA),
proteomics
(proteins)
and
metabolomics
(metabolites)3,4. Over the last decades, omic sciences is playing
an essential role in the field of dentistry5. The accessibility of
five diagnostic alphabets i.e. proteins, mRNAs, miRNAs,
metabolic compounds and microbes has proposed significant
advantages. This is due to the fact that the disease states may
escort detectable changes in one, but not in all dimensions6.

By the great effort of researchers from University of

California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA a SKB (Salivaomics
Knowledge Base) was introduced. This platform is web-based,
data repository, management system to support human salivary
proteomics, transcriptomics, miRNAs, metabolomics and
microbiome research. This web-based platform provides
salivaomics studies and data to clinicians or researchers for the
exploration of systematic biology and pathology of human
saliva12. Denny et al. compiled consortium of three research
groups on the human saliva proteins collected from the ductal
secretions and identified 1166 proteins. This study opened a
window for the future analysis of salivary samples from
individuals with oral and systemic diseases. with the goal of
identifying biomarkers with diagnostic and/or prognostic value
for these conditions; another possibility is the discovery of
therapeutic targets13. By omic sciences, novel methods have
been identified for the developments of drugs similar to human
defence system. Many researchers reported oral salivary
peptides carpeted on material surfaces for inhibiting microbes
and activation of growth factors14-16. Synthetic peptides from
natural salivary proteins reduced the demineralization of
enamel17. Combination of emerging biotechnologies and
salivary diagnostics, saliva has been gradually unveiled as a
valuable medical analytes and biomarkers for different diseases
including cancer, autoimmune diseases, viral diseases, bacterial
diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and Human Immuno Virus
(HIV). Amongst, the cancer detection is the most attractive area
due to involvement of vital human tissues such as breast cancer,
pancreatic cancer18 lung cancer19 and ovarian cancer20. Existing
markers for the salivary detection include that of myocardial
infarction21 and efforts are already in placefor new markers of
Sjgrens syndrome22. This has translated the saliva-based

On the basis of the biomolecules from human saliva, the

term Salivaomics was introduced7. The human saliva
contains many hormones, enzymes, proteins, peptides, growth
factors, microbes, and antimicrobial peptides which help in
defense as well as diagnosis of oral and systematic diseases8-10.
The saliva biofluid can be collected non-invasively without
the need of expertise required for blood sampling. In addition,
other key benefits such as, cost effectiveness, ease of handling,
disposal and transportability, minimal risk of cross1. Department of Prosthodontics and Implantology, School of Dentistry, King
Faisal University, Al-Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
2. Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Al Farabi Colleges, Riyadh
11313, Saudi Arabia
3. Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Baqai University,
Karachi, Pakistan.
4. Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah
University, Madina Munawwarrah 41311, Saudi Arabia

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Khurshid Z/ Najeeb S/ Khan RS/ Zafar MS

Salivaomics: An Emerging Approach in Dentistry

diagnostics from the simple oral cavity to the whole

physiological system. Currently, saliva-based diagnostics is on
the cutting edge of diagnostic technologies2 in dentistry that is
very helpful in the early diagnosis, maintenance of disease,
drug control and designing of new natural drugs. It may be
considered by the clinicians during clinical decisions making
and predicting post treatment outcomes in the near future.
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Zohaib Khurshid
Department of Prosthodontics and Implantology
School of Dentistry, King Faisal University
Al-Hofuf 31982
Saudi Arabia
E-mail: drzohaibkhurshid@gmail.com

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