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Effective Immunity to Dental Caries: Protection of Gnotobiotic Rats by Local, Immunization with a Ribosomal Preparation from Streptococcus mutans
Author(s) -
Gregory Richard L.,
Michalek Suzanne M.,
Shechmeister Isaac L.,
McGhee Jerry R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1983.tb00644.x
Subject(s) - streptococcus mutans , saliva , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , ribosomal rna , antibody , antigen , glucosyltransferase , immune system , dental plaque , immunology , bacteria , gene , biochemistry , genetics
A ribosomal preparation from Streptococcus mutans 6715 was characterized for its ability to induce an immune response in gnotobiotic rats which was protective against S. mutans ‐induced dental caries. Animals injected in the salivary gland region with the S. mutans ribosomal vaccine developed significantly higher ( P < 0.01) salivary IgA and serum IgG antibody activities against whole S. mutans cells and ribosomal preparations than nonimmunized rats. Vaccinated animals had significantly lower (67%; P < 0.01) levels of S. mutans adherent to their molar surfaces than the control rats after infection with the homologous, cariogenic S. mutans . The immunized animals had significantly fewer ( P < 0.01) carious lesions on their buccal, sulcal, and proximal molar surfaces than the nonimmunized rats following challenge with the virulent organism. Animals injected with the ribosomal preparation developed salivary IgA and serum IgG antibodies with specificities to various cell surface‐associated antigens such as lipoteichoic acid and glucosyltransferase, suggesting that the observed protection may be due to antibodies against cell surface contaminants of the ribosomal vaccine. These results are the first demonstration that a ribosomal preparation from S. mutans protected rats from caries formation after challenge with the homologous, virulent S. mutans .