Dental Caries in Hamsters Caused by Homologous and Heterologous Serotypes

Seven serotypes of Streptococcus mutans have been identified. The biochemical, genetic, and serological characteristics of these serotypes have indicated that certain serotypes are quite similar, whereas others are quite distinct. The effect of local immunization with glucosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes from serotypes a, c, or g on infection and disease caused by homologous or heterologous cariogenic S. mutans is reported. Organisms with either similar (a and g) or different (c and g) biochemical and serological characteristics were selected for heterologous challenge. NIH white hamsters were injected four times at weekly intervals with GTF prepared by 6 M guanidine-hydrochloride elution from water-insoluble glucan of serotypes a, c, or g, which resulted in enzyme (homologous) inhibitory activity in sera and salivas. After infection of GTF-immunized and sham-immunized groups of hamsters with cariogenic S. mutans of the same serotype as the injected antigen (homologous infection) or with S. mutans of a different serotype from the injected antigen (heterologous infection), the numbers of streptomycinlabeled S. mutans, caries, and lesions were determined. Immunization with GTF preparations from each of the three serotypes resulted in statistically significant reductions in the extent of infection and disease and number of lesions caused by infections with homologous cariogenic S. mutans. Statistically significant reductions in these three parameters were also observed in groups immunized with enzyme from serotype a (strain E49) and challenged with cariogenic serotype g (strain 6715) organisms; or immunized with enzyme from serotype c (strain Ingbritt) and challenged with cariogenic serotype g (strain 6715) organisms; or immunized with enzyme from serotype g (strain 6715) and challenged with cariogenic serotype c (strain Ingbritt) organisms. These studies suggest that soluble antigen preparations containing GTF from one serotype may elicit a protective immune response against infection with cariogenic S. mutans from many or possibly all serotypes.

[1]  J. Ebersole,et al.  Cross-protective aspects of glucosyltransferase antigens in the hamster caries model. , 1978, Advances in experimental medicine and biology.

[2]  J. Ebersole,et al.  Antibody binding of glucosyltransferase enzyme preparations from homologous and heterologous serotypes of S. mutans. , 1978, Advances in experimental medicine and biology.

[3]  E. Smith,et al.  Purification of dextran-binding protein from cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. , 1977, Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

[4]  M. Taubman,et al.  Effects of local immunization with glucosyltransferase fractions from Streptococcus mutans on dental caries in rats and hamsters. , 1977, Journal of immunology.

[5]  H. Kuramitsu,et al.  Immunological relationships between glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus mutans serotypes , 1976, Infection and immunity.

[6]  J. Mestecky,et al.  Ingestion of Streptococcus mutans induces secretory immunoglobulin A and caries immunity , 1976, Science.

[7]  T. Lehner,et al.  Serum glucosyltransferase-inhibiting antibodies and dental caries in rhesus monkeys immunized against Streptococcus mutans. , 1976, Immunology.

[8]  D. Bratthall,et al.  Streptococcus mutans Serotypes: Some Aspects of Their Identification, Distribution, Antigenic Shifts, and Relationship to Caries , 1976, Journal of dental research.

[9]  A. Gaffar Effects of Specific Immunization on Dental Caries in Hamsters , 1976, Journal of dental research.

[10]  R. Genco,et al.  Effects of Antibodies on Adherence and Cell-Associated Glucan Production by Streptococcus mutans Cells , 1976, Journal of dental research.

[11]  H. D. Slade,et al.  Characterization of an anti-glucosyltransferase serum specific for insoluble glucan synthesis by Streptococcus mutans , 1976, Infection and immunity.

[12]  H. D. Slade,et al.  Serological purification of polysaccharide antigens from Streptococcus mutans serotypes a and d: characterization of multiple antigenic determinants , 1975, Infection and immunity.

[13]  W H Bowen,et al.  Immunization against dental caries , 1975, British Dental Journal.

[14]  M. Levine,et al.  Isolation and immunochemical characterization of the group-specific antigen of Streptococcus mutants 6715 , 1975, Infection and immunity.

[15]  R. Gibbons,et al.  Bacterial adherence in oral microbial ecology. , 1975, Annual review of microbiology.

[16]  S. Michalek,et al.  Effective immunity to dental caries: protection of gnotobiotic rats by local immunization with Streptococcus mutans. , 1975, Journal of immunology.

[17]  B. Perch,et al.  Biochemical and serological properties of Streptococcus mutans from various human and animal sources. , 2009, Acta pathologica et microbiologica Scandinavica. Section B: Microbiology and immunology.

[18]  A. Coykendall Four types of Streptococcus mutans based on their genetic, antigenic and biochemical characteristics. , 1974, Journal of general microbiology.

[19]  M. Taubman,et al.  Effects of Local Immunization with Streptococcus mutans on Induction of Salivary Immunoglobulin A Antibody and Experimental Dental Caries in Rats , 1974, Infection and immunity.

[20]  R. Genco,et al.  Inhibition of Glucosyltransferase Activity by Antisera to Known Serotypes of Streptococcus mutans , 1973, Infection and immunity.

[21]  J. A. Hayashi,et al.  Immunization with Dextransucrases and Glycosidic Hydrolases , 1972, Journal of dental research.

[22]  D. Bratthall Demonstration of five serological groups of streptococcal strains resembling Streptococcus mutans. , 1970, Odontologisk revy.

[23]  H. Jordan,et al.  PERIODONTAL LESIONS IN THE SYRIAN HAMSTER. III. FINDINGS RELATED TO AN INFECTIOUS AND TRANSMISSIBLE COMPONENT. , 1964, Archives of oral biology.

[24]  F. Smith,et al.  COLORIMETRIC METHOD FOR DETER-MINATION OF SUGAR AND RELATED SUBSTANCE , 1956 .

[25]  H. M. Tsuchiya,et al.  ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF DEXTRAN , 1952, Journal of bacteriology.

[26]  O. H. Lowry,et al.  Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. , 1951, The Journal of biological chemistry.

[27]  Michael Somogyi,et al.  A NEW REAGENT FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SUGARS , 1945 .