Composition and metabolism of the pellicle in children

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Christian Hannig; Professor Dr. Matthias Hannig; Professor Dr. Thomas Hofmann
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery ; Food Chemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 276091689

The inital bioadhesion on the tooth surface and pellicle formation have a key role for physiological and pathophysiological processes in the oral cavity. Composition and structure of the pellicle in adults have been investigated in detail. Though it is well known that oral environment and salivary composition in children and adults differ considerably, the pellicle in children has not been investigated adequately until now. The present project aims to evaluate proteome, metabolome and enzymology in the pellicle of preschool children systematically. Children with different caries activity will be enrolled in the study. In addition, the ultrastructure of the pellicle will be visualized by electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The metabolome of the pellicle will be evaluated for the first time; this offers new insights in the metabolism at the tooth surface. Combined analysis of the respective parameters offers better and profound understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes in the initial phase of in situ bioadhesion in the oral cavity.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants