Anticandidal activities of newborn saliva
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Anticandidal activities of saliva from term and preterm neonates.
IRAS ID
174201
Contact name
Adilia Warris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Oral candidiasis (thrush infection of the mouth) is a common infection in new born babies. This is believed to be due to an immaturity of their immune system, as oral thrush infection is not seen in healthy individuals at any other age (apart from in the very elderly) but is quite often seen in people with an immune problem such as HIV infection. Healthy adults and older children have immune proteins in the saliva which prevent thrush infections in the mouth. These are maintained in normal amounts by stimulation from immune cells and molecules in the body. The part of the immune system of a new born which is immature and makes them vulnerable to oral thrush has not been identified, and we are not aware of any previous research that looks at whether new borns have a deficiency of the systemic immune system, or of local factors in the saliva which allow candida to grow. Importantly, babies born prematurely or with a very low birth weight are also at risk of blood or organ infections with Candida which are very serious and can cause death or severe health problems. The proposed research is a small pilot study which aims to investigate the ability of new born saliva to kill candida. We will compare the saliva of 10 babies born with very low birth weight (<1500g) who are at risk of severe candida infections with that of 10 healthy babies born at term with a normal birth weight (>2500g). We will also compare that to the activity of the saliva of their mothers, who will act as the control group. This study will give us information about whether there is a difference in the immune function of new born saliva that makes them more likely to develop oral thrush.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
16/NS/0001
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion