The neonatal salivary transcriptome

Abstract

The ability to noninvasively assess the physical and developmental status of a neonate is a goal of modern medicine. In recent years, technological advances have permitted the highthroughput analysis of saliva for thousands of genes, proteins, and metabolites from a single sample source. Saliva is an ideal biofluid to assess health, disease, and development in the newborn. It may be harnessed repeatedly, even in the most vulnerable patients, without risk of harm. Translating novel information about an infant’s global development and risk of disease to the neonatal bedside through the salivary transcriptome has the potential to significantly improve clinical care and outcomes in this at-risk population.