Biomaterial Database

Effective immunity to dental caries: protection of gnotobiotic rats by local immunization with a ribosomal preparation from Streptococcus mutans. 1983

R L Gregory, and S M Michalek, and I L Shechmeister, and J R McGhee

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 less than 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 less than 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 less than 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 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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007071	Immunoglobulin A, Secretory	The principle immunoglobulin in exocrine secretions such as milk, respiratory and intestinal mucin, saliva and tears. The complete molecule (around 400 kD) is composed of two four-chain units of IMMUNOGLOBULIN A, one SECRETORY COMPONENT and one J chain (IMMUNOGLOBULIN J-CHAINS).	Colostral IgA,IgA, Exocrine,IgA, Secretory,SIgA,Secretory IgA,Secretory Immunoglobulin A,Exocrine IgA,IgA, Colostral
D007114	Immunization	Deliberate stimulation of the host's immune response. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of ANTIGENS or IMMUNOLOGIC ADJUVANTS. PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of IMMUNE SERA or LYMPHOCYTES or their extracts (e.g., transfer factor, immune RNA) or transplantation of immunocompetent cell producing tissue (thymus or bone marrow).	Immunologic Stimulation,Immunostimulation,Sensitization, Immunologic,Variolation,Immunologic Sensitization,Immunological Stimulation,Sensitization, Immunological,Stimulation, Immunologic,Immunizations,Immunological Sensitization,Immunological Sensitizations,Immunological Stimulations,Sensitizations, Immunological,Stimulation, Immunological,Stimulations, Immunological,Variolations
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D003773	Dental Plaque	A film that attaches to teeth, often causing DENTAL CARIES and GINGIVITIS. It is composed of MUCINS, secreted from salivary glands, and microorganisms.	Plaque, Dental
D005856	Germ-Free Life	Animals not contaminated by or associated with any foreign organisms.	Axenic Animals,Gnotobiotics,Germfree Life,Animal, Axenic,Animals, Axenic,Axenic Animal,Germ Free Life,Gnotobiotic,Life, Germ-Free,Life, Germfree
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000907	Antibodies, Bacterial	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS.	Bacterial Antibodies
D000918	Antibody Specificity	The property of antibodies which enables them to react with some ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS and not with others. Specificity is dependent on chemical composition, physical forces, and molecular structure at the binding site.	Antibody Specificities,Specificities, Antibody,Specificity, Antibody
D001428	Bacterial Vaccines	Suspensions of attenuated or killed bacteria administered for the prevention or treatment of infectious bacterial disease.	Bacterial Vaccine,Bacterin,Vaccine, Bacterial,Vaccines, Bacterial
D012270	Ribosomes	Multicomponent ribonucleoprotein structures found in the CYTOPLASM of all cells, and in MITOCHONDRIA, and PLASTIDS. They function in PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS via GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Ribosome