Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2025
Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Identification of Aerobic Salivary Microorganisms in Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using MALDI-TOF MS:
Milena da Silva Moreira1, Giovanna Schmitz1, Mariana de Sá Alves1
1Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia, Campus São José dos Campos, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Rationale:
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a multifactorial disease, and emerging evidence links the oral microbiome to its development. Rapid, noninvasive identification of salivary microorganisms may offer novel diagnostic and prognostic insights into oral cancer.
Methods:
Salivary microbiota from OSCC patients and healthy individuals were analyzed using MALDI Biotyper. Saliva samples were cultured, and microbial identification was performed based on protein spectral profiles using an UltrafleXtreme MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer.
Results:
Thirteen OSCC patients (mean age 55 ± 11 years; 69% male) and nineteen healthy controls (mean age 55 ± 10 years; 79% male) were analyzed. Distinct microbial profiles were observed in OSCC patients, including pathogenic species previously associated with carcinogenesis, suggesting potential biomarkers for oral cancer.
Conclusions:
The MALDI Biotyper is an effective, noninvasive tool for identifying salivary microbiota. Its application may support early diagnosis and prognosis of OSCC, reinforcing the significance of the oral microbiome in cancer etiology.
