title: A Potential Biofilm Metabolite Signature for Caries Activity - A Pilot Clinical Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study's aim was to compare the dental biofilm metabolite-profile of caries-active (N=11) or caries-free (N=4) children by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples collected after overnight fasting, with or without a previous glucose rinse, were combined for each child based on the caries status of the site, re-suspended in ethanol and analyzed by GC/MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biofilm from caries-active sites exhibited a different chromatographic profile compared to caries-free sites. Qualitative and quantitative analysis suggested a special cluster of branched alcohols and esters present at substantially higher intensity in biofilms of caries-active sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study indicates that there are metabolites present in the biofilm which have the potential to provide a characteristic metabolomics signature for caries activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zandona
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Novotny
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Preisser
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Benecha
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Zero
keywords: Biomarker; Caries-activity; Dental-caries; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Metabolites