Brown JW, et al. - In view of the observation that enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) enters the body through the oral cavity and cotransits the digestive tract with salivary components, researchers here hypothesized that the antimicrobial activity of salivary proteins might extend beyond the oropharynx into the proximal digestive tract. This study reported a salivary component exerting specific antimicrobial activity against an enteric pathogen and suggested that histatin-5 and related peptides might be exploited for prophylactic and/or therapeutic uses. They noted that numerous viruses, bacteria, and fungi traverse the oropharynx to cause disease, thereby suggesting a considerable opportunity for various salivary components to neutralize these pathogens prior to arrival at their target organ.