About this Research Topic
Over the last several years, saliva has garnered significant attention as a non-invasive fluid for disease testing. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, where saliva played a central diagnostic role, and those who study the oral cavity have been essential to our understanding of infection and transmission. Pathogenic infections, tumors, medication-induced dry mouth, sialolithiasis, autoimmune disease, and radiation-induced glandular damage, are just some of the diverse diseases that impact the salivary glands. Thanks to the advancement of cutting-edge omics technologies, novel therapeutics, innovative bioengineering approaches, and the dedication of and collaboration among creative scientists, the field of salivary research has made significant strides in our understanding, modeling, and treatment of salivary dysfunction. Over the last several years, the Salivary Research Group, one of the scientific groups at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR), has hosted a symposium at the annual IADR meeting focused on early-career investigators and the fresh ideas and research they have contributed to our field. These sessions, entitled GenNext: The Future of Salivary Research, have been incredibly successful and have highlighted three key focus areas for this new generation of salivary researchers:
1) Novel disease models
2) Cellular communication
3) Viral and bacterial influences on gland function
The goal of this Research Topic is to expand upon the success of the GenNext symposia and expand the conversation in the three identified areas, integrating the ideas of these early career investigators with those of the broader field. We invite trainees (students, postdocs) and early-career investigators to submit their work. We also encourage senior investigators to contribute their ideas, research, and perspectives in these three areas, so that we can create a more holistic view of our collective current understanding. We invite all investigators in the salivary research field to contribute.
We welcome original research reports, case reports, systematic reviews, mini-reviews, methods, and perspectives on any aspect of the following topics:
• Oral microbiome and salivary function
• Viral-induced salivary dysfunction
• Pathogenic infection of the salivary glands
• New models for normal salivary gland development and/or function (e.g., in vitro, in vivo, in silico, organoids, organ-on-chip)
• Novel disease models (e.g. Sjögren’s disease, radiation-induced damage, infection)
• Models for screening putative therapeutics for salivary gland disorders
• Understudied cell types in salivary function (e.g., nerves, macrophages, endothelium)
• Studies of cell-cell communication within or with salivary gland cell populations
• Tools for elucidating cell-cell communication in the context of salivary gland biology
• Method for studying, visualizing, or otherwise interpreting any of the above
• Perspectives on the above concepts, topics, and tools
1) Novel disease models
2) Cellular communication
3) Viral and bacterial influences on gland function
The goal of this Research Topic is to expand upon the success of the GenNext symposia and expand the conversation in the three identified areas, integrating the ideas of these early career investigators with those of the broader field. We invite trainees (students, postdocs) and early-career investigators to submit their work. We also encourage senior investigators to contribute their ideas, research, and perspectives in these three areas, so that we can create a more holistic view of our collective current understanding. We invite all investigators in the salivary research field to contribute.
We welcome original research reports, case reports, systematic reviews, mini-reviews, methods, and perspectives on any aspect of the following topics:
• Oral microbiome and salivary function
• Viral-induced salivary dysfunction
• Pathogenic infection of the salivary glands
• New models for normal salivary gland development and/or function (e.g., in vitro, in vivo, in silico, organoids, organ-on-chip)
• Novel disease models (e.g. Sjögren’s disease, radiation-induced damage, infection)
• Models for screening putative therapeutics for salivary gland disorders
• Understudied cell types in salivary function (e.g., nerves, macrophages, endothelium)
• Studies of cell-cell communication within or with salivary gland cell populations
• Tools for elucidating cell-cell communication in the context of salivary gland biology
• Method for studying, visualizing, or otherwise interpreting any of the above
• Perspectives on the above concepts, topics, and tools
Keywords: Salivary gland, Saliva, Oral microbiome, Cellular communication, Disease models, Viral-induced dysfunction, Organ-on-chip, Multi-omics, Salivary gland nerves, Macrophages, Sjoögren's Disease, Radiation-induced dysfunction, Xerostomia
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
