US 5,686,237 A · Use of biomarkers in saliva to evaluate the toxicity of agents and the function of tissues in both biomedical and environmental applications

Abstract

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.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for evaluating the presence of a chemical agent, said chemical agent selected from the group consisting of organophosphate insecticides and carbamate insecticides, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a saliva sample;
b. measuring the total protein content of the saliva sample;
c. adding a reactive substrate specific for a biomarker enzyme, said biomarker enzyme selected from the group consisting of acetylcholinesterase, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, amylase, and carboxypeptidase;
d. incubating said saliva sample and said reactive substrate;
e. detecting and measuring the level of a reaction product formed by the reaction between said biomarker enzyme and said substrate;
and
f. comparing detected level of the reaction product in said saliva sample with those of control samples, calculating activity of said biomarker enzyme from the level of reaction product formation, and determining inhibition of activity of said biomarker enzyme present in said saliva sample, wherein inhibition of activity of said biomarker enzyme is indicative of the presence of said chemical agent in said sample.

4 more elements

A method for evaluating the presence of a chemical agent, said chemical agent selected from the group consisting of organophosphate insecticides and carbamate insecticides, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a saliva sample, containing a biomarker enzyme, said biomarker enzyme selected from the group consisting of acetylcholinesterase, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, amylase, and carboxypeptidase;
b. measuring the total protein content of the saliva sample;
c. providing a sample containing said chemical agent;
d. combining the sample containing said chemical agent with said saliva sample;
e. adding a reactive substrate specific for said biomarker enzyme;
f. incubating said combined sample and said reactive substrate;
g. detecting and measuring the level of a reaction product formed by the reaction between the biomarker enzyme and the substrate;
and
h. comparing detected level of the reaction product in said combined sample with those of control samples, calculating activity of said biomarker enzyme from the level of reaction product formation, and determining inhibition of activity of said biomarker enzyme present in said combined sample wherein inhibition of activity of said biomarker enzyme is indicative of the presence of said chemical agent in said sample.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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

Life of this patent

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

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5