The dual trend in histatins research

We review histatins (Hsts) in order to encourage development of analytical platforms to clarify obscure points in knowledge of this family of antimicrobial and antifungal peptides. To explain the present interest, we outline the number and the nature of Hsts and their known functions (i.e. antimicrobial action, wound closure, biomarkers of stress, satiety, body mass and incipient Alzheimer’s disease, and diagnosis and treatment of addiction, including to cocaine).The two aspects of research on Hsts (i.e. their natural effects on living organisms and their potential use for medical applications, including as biomarkers) make it necessary to develop new analytical methods. The variety of matrices in which Hsts exist (e.g., saliva and tooth-surface-protein pellicle) make it essential to develop new sample-preparation steps and to improve identification and quantitation steps as analytical instrumentation evolves.In this context, metabolomics studies could be of great interest, as contributions of analytical chemists could be one of the keys to achieving the role that they deserve within “-omics” research.