Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review
Many biological markers of normal and disease states can be detected in saliva. The benefits of saliva collection for research include being non-invasive, ease of frequent sample collection, saving time, and being cost-effective. A small volume (≈1 mL) of saliva is enough for these analyses that can...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1909 |
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| author | Douglass M. Diak Brian E. Crucian Mayra Nelman-Gonzalez Satish K. Mehta |
| author_facet | Douglass M. Diak Brian E. Crucian Mayra Nelman-Gonzalez Satish K. Mehta |
| author_sort | Douglass M. Diak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many biological markers of normal and disease states can be detected in saliva. The benefits of saliva collection for research include being non-invasive, ease of frequent sample collection, saving time, and being cost-effective. A small volume (≈1 mL) of saliva is enough for these analyses that can be collected in just a few minutes. For “dry” saliva paper matrices, additional drying times (about 30 min) may be needed, but this can be performed at room temperature without the need for freezers and specialized equipment. Together, these make saliva an ideal choice of body fluid for many clinical studies from diagnosis to monitoring measurable biological substances in hospital settings, remote, and other general locations including disaster areas. For these reasons, we have been using saliva (dry as well as wet) from astronauts participating in short- and long-duration space missions for over two decades to conduct viral, stress, and immunological studies. We have also extended the use of saliva to space analogs including bed rest, Antarctica, and closed-chamber studies. Saliva is a biomarker-rich and easily accessible body fluid that could enable larger and faster public health screenings, earlier disease detection, and improved patient outcomes. This review summarizes our lessons learned from utilizing saliva in spaceflight research and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of saliva in clinical diagnostics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a77fde0aed0452290f8d17a88f711f4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a77fde0aed0452290f8d17a88f711f42025-08-20T02:56:51ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-12-011612190910.3390/v16121909Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A ReviewDouglass M. Diak0Brian E. Crucian1Mayra Nelman-Gonzalez2Satish K. Mehta3Aegis Aerospace, Human Health and Performance Directorate, Houston, TX 77058, USANational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center, Human Health and Performance Directorate, Houston, TX 77058, USAKBR, Human Health and Performance Directorate, Houston, TX 77058, USAJES Tech, Human Health and Performance Directorate, Houston, TX 77058, USAMany biological markers of normal and disease states can be detected in saliva. The benefits of saliva collection for research include being non-invasive, ease of frequent sample collection, saving time, and being cost-effective. A small volume (≈1 mL) of saliva is enough for these analyses that can be collected in just a few minutes. For “dry” saliva paper matrices, additional drying times (about 30 min) may be needed, but this can be performed at room temperature without the need for freezers and specialized equipment. Together, these make saliva an ideal choice of body fluid for many clinical studies from diagnosis to monitoring measurable biological substances in hospital settings, remote, and other general locations including disaster areas. For these reasons, we have been using saliva (dry as well as wet) from astronauts participating in short- and long-duration space missions for over two decades to conduct viral, stress, and immunological studies. We have also extended the use of saliva to space analogs including bed rest, Antarctica, and closed-chamber studies. Saliva is a biomarker-rich and easily accessible body fluid that could enable larger and faster public health screenings, earlier disease detection, and improved patient outcomes. This review summarizes our lessons learned from utilizing saliva in spaceflight research and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of saliva in clinical diagnostics.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1909salivaspaceflightherpesvirusesInternational Space Stationbiomarkersimmune |
| spellingShingle | Douglass M. Diak Brian E. Crucian Mayra Nelman-Gonzalez Satish K. Mehta Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review Viruses saliva spaceflight herpesviruses International Space Station biomarkers immune |
| title | Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review |
| title_full | Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review |
| title_fullStr | Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review |
| title_short | Saliva Diagnostics in Spaceflight Virology Studies—A Review |
| title_sort | saliva diagnostics in spaceflight virology studies a review |
| topic | saliva spaceflight herpesviruses International Space Station biomarkers immune |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1909 |
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