PROJECT SUMMARY
Recently, individuals with COVID-19 were found to harbor replicating SARS-CoV-2 inside
salivary epithelial cells resulting in inflammation, architectural distortion, and atrophy of minor
and major salivary glands. We have previously demonstrated the importance of histatin-5, a
secreted salivary antimicrobial peptide exclusively produced in the salivary glands, in protecting
the oral cavity against the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. In light of the findings
indicating that COVID-19 patients likely suffer from salivary gland dysfunction, we hypothesize
that histatin-5 salivary levels are compromised in COVID-19 patients potentially predisposing
these individuals to long term opportunistic infections and other oral mucosal conditions. In this
proposed clinical study, we will utilize our developed immunoassay to demonstrate the impact of
COVID-19 on histatin-5 production, Candida colonization, and induction of local immune
activation. We expect the findings generated from these studies to provide lacking mechanistic
insights into the pathophysiology of salivary gland dysfunction in COVID-19 patients, and its
implications on the health of the oral cavity.
