Advancements in proteomics and gene expression analysis are providing researchers sensitive enough tools to consider saliva as an ideal, noninvasive sample for a host of new diagnostic tests. Two recent studies highlight the potential of salivary marker analysis to potentially improve the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and assess feeding readiness in premature babies. Saliva is functionally equivalent to blood in terms of reflecting the physiological state of the body, according to a review of the emerging use of mass spectrometry for evaluation of salivary biomarkers, published in the January issue of Clinica Chimica Acta. It is estimated, the authors say, that saliva contains approximately 2,000 proteins of which 597 are also identifiable in the blood. “With the fast development of mass spectrometry and proteomic technologies, saliva is a growing area for basic and clinical research with substantial potential for disease diagnosis,” write the authors led by Qihui Wang from Sichuan University (China). Proteomic Assessment for Autism-Related Markers Protein markers found in saliva can differentiate children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) from a group of controls, according to results of a pilot study published online ahead of print Jan. 24 in Autism Research. ASD diagnosis is currently based […]