Influence of environmental factors, levels of potentially cariogenic microorganisms and antimicrobial peptides on the development of early childhood caries

• Grant number: 13/12167-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane Duque
• Grantee: Lais Fernanda Fonseca Ribas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a microbial infection that can severely compromise the dentition of young children. In the oral cavity, the components of the innate immune system like antimicrobial cationic peptides (AMCP) - defensins, histatins and cathelicidin - are responsible for the maintenance of the ecological balance and the lack of opportunistic infections. Studies have demonstrated that children with ECC have low levels of some AMCP when compared to caries free children (CF). The objectives of this study will be to evaluate the influence of environmental factors (diet, oral hygiene, socioeconomic and cultural conditions), levels of putative cariogenic microorganisms, and immunological factors (levels of AMPs) on the development of ECC. Samples of saliva will be collected from ECC (severe or not) and CF children for putative cariogenic microorganism counts by culture and Real Time-PCR. The saliva will also be analyzed for the quantification of AMCP using ELISA assays. Information about diet, oral hygiene, cultural and socio-economic conditions will be obtained from the questionnaire and diet diary. Data will be statistically analyzed. This study intends to contribute to the evaluation of the antimicrobial and immunological role of AMCP in caries prevention.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COLOMBO, NATALIA H.; RIBAS, LAIS F. F.; PEREIRA, JESSE A.; KRELING, PAULA F.; KRESSIRER, CHRISTINE A.; TANNER, ANNE C. R.; DUQUE, CRISTIANE. Antimicrobial peptides in saliva of children with severe early childhood caries. ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY, v. 69, p. 40-46, SEP 2016. (13/12167-7, 12/19235-5)

COLOMBO, NATALIA HELENA; PEREIRA, JESSE AUGUSTO; RODRIGUES DA SILVA, MARJULLY EDUARDO; FONSECA RIBAS, LAIS FERNANDA; PARISOTTO, THAIS MANZANO; MATTOS-GRANER, RENATA DE OLIVEIRA; SMITH, DANIEL J.; DUQUE, CRISTIANE. Relationship between the IgA antibody response against Streptococcus mutans GbpB and severity of dental caries in childhood. ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY, v. 67, p. 22-27, JUL 2016. (13/12167-7, 12/19235-5)

COLOMBO, NATALIA H.; KRELING, PAULA F.; RIBAS, LAIS F. F.; PEREIRA, JESSE A.; KRESSIRER, CHRISTINE A.; KLEIN, MARLISE I.; TANNER, ANNE C. R.; DUQUE, CRISTIANE. Quantitative assessment of salivary oral bacteria according to the severity of dental caries in childhood. ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY, v. 83, p. 282-288, NOV 2017. (13/12167-7, 12/19235-5)