Open AccessEvaluation of three individual glucosyltransferases produced by Streptococcus mutans using monoclonal antibodies
Author(s) -
Tomita Yukihide,
Zhu Xia,
Ochiai Kuniyasu,
Namiki Yasuji,
Okada Tamami,
Ikemi Takuji,
Fukushima Kazuo
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1996.tb08611.x
Subject(s) - glucosyltransferase , glucosyltransferases , streptococcus mutans , monoclonal antibody , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibody , chemistry , enzyme , biochemistry , bacteria , immunology , genetics
We previously established murine hybridomas producing a monoclonal antibody monospecific against three glucosyl‐transferases (I, SI and S) of Streptococcus mutans which contribute to dental caries formation. Here, we developed a new immunochemical technique (cross‐dot system) with which individual levels of glucosyltransferases expressed by S. mutans can be evaluated. We also examined glucosyltransferase production and in vitro artificial plaque formation by a reference strain and several clinical isolates of S. mutans . The findings indicate that the levels of glucosyltransferases produced greatly vary with the cells and the culture medium, and that the cells producing high levels of both glucosyltransferase‐SI and glucosyltransferase‐I enzymes may possess high in vitro artificial plaque forming ability. We suggest that the cross‐dot system will be useful for estimating the cariogenic potential of S. mutans isolates.