scholarly journals Coimmunization with Complementary Glucosyltransferase Peptides Results in Enhanced Immunogenicity and Protection against Dental Caries

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 2698-2703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A. Taubman ◽  
Daniel J. Smith ◽  
Cynthia J. Holmberg ◽  
Jean W. Eastcott

ABSTRACT Peptide constructs from the catalytic (CAT) and glucan-binding (GLU) regions of the mutans streptococcal glucosyltransferase enzymes (GTF) can provide immunity to dental caries infection. A strategy of coimmunization was tested to determine whether protection could be enhanced. Rats were immunized with one of the previously described peptide constructs from the CAT or GLU region of the GTF of mutans streptococci or coimmunized with a combination of these constructs (CAT-GLU). Coimmunized animals demonstrated significantly higher serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and salivary IgA antibody levels to CAT or GTF than rats immunized with either construct alone. To assess the functional significance of coimmunization with these constructs, animals were immunized as above or with Streptococcus sobrinus GTF and then infected with S. sobrinus to explore the effects of immunization on immunological, microbiological, and disease (dental caries) parameters. Serum antibody from the communized group inhibited S. sobrinus GTF-mediated insoluble glucan synthesis in vitro above that of the individual-construct-immunized groups. Immunization with CAT or GLU constructs resulted in significantly reduced dental caries after infection with S. sobrinus compared with sham-immunized animals. Coimmunization produced greater reductions in caries than after immunization with either CAT or GLU. Also, significant elevations in lymphocyte proliferative responses to CAT, GLU, and GTF were observed after coimmunization with CAT-GLU compared with the responses after immunization with the individual constructs. The results suggested that increased numbers of memory T cells, which could proliferate to CAT, were generated by coimmunization. The experiments support the functional significance of these GTF domains in dental caries pathogenesis and present coimmunization as a simple alternative to intact GTF to enhance protective immunity against cariogenic microorganisms.

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1293-1300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeyuki Hamada

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that is caused by an interplay of three major factors, i.e., teeth, cariogenic bacteria, and fermentable sugars. Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus, collectively termed mutans streptococci (MS), are principal causative agents of dental caries. Initial MS-tooth surface attachment is followed by firm and irreversible adhesion of MS to the tooth surface, accompanied by the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan from sucrose via enzymatic action of glucosyltransferases (GTases). MS induce severe dental caries in rats fed on a high-sucrose diet. Epidemiological surveys indicate that frequent sucrose intakes are associated with high prevalence of dental caries in humans. In contrast, dietary sucrose restrictions and/or use of nonfermentable sucrose substitutes clearly influence the GTase activities of MS, resulting in decreased caries development. Structural isomers of sucrose (i.e., disaccharides composed of glucose and fructose with different linkages) will not function as substrates for GTases of MS, nor be utilized as energy sources by MS. Palatinose and trehalulose are included in this category, and are produced in commercial scales in Japan. Glucose oligomers containing α-1, 6 and/or α-1, 4 linkages are found to inhibit glucan synthesis by MS from sucrose, although these oligomers are hydrolyzed by MS to release acids. Lastly, sugar alcohols, including maltitol and palatinit, are useful as noncaries-inducing sweeteners.


2009 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Niu ◽  
J. Sun ◽  
M. Fan ◽  
Q.-A. Xu ◽  
J. Guo ◽  
...  

Mutans streptococci (MS) are generally considered to be the principal etiological agent of dental caries. MS have two important virulence factors: cell- surface protein PAc and glucosyltransferases (GTFs). GTFs have two functional domains: an N-terminal catalytic sucrose-binding domain (CAT) and a C-terminal glucan-binding domain (GLU). A fusion anti-caries DNA vaccine, pGJA-P/VAX, encoding two important antigenic domains, PAc and GLU, of S. mutans, was successful in reducing the levels of dental caries caused by S. mutans in gnotobiotic animals. However, its protective effect against S. sobrinus infection proved to be weak. Does the DNA vaccine need an antigen of S. sobrinus to enhance its ability to inhibit infection? To answer this question, in this study, we cloned the catalytic ( cat) fragment of S. sobrinus gtf-I, which demonstrated its ability to inhibit water-insoluble glucan synthesis by S. sobrinus, into pGJA-P/VAX to produce a new anti-caries DNA vaccine.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertram Flehmig ◽  
Michael Schindler ◽  
Natalia Ruetalo ◽  
Ramona Businger ◽  
Manfred Bayer ◽  
...  

Background: Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibit a highly variable clinical course, varying from barely discernible signs of disease, to moderate flu-like symptoms and, occasionally, with life-threatening pneumonia and/or cytokine storm. The relationship between the nasopharyngeal virus load, IgA and IgG antibodies to both the S1-RBD-protein and the N-protein as well the neutralizing activity (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 in the blood of moderately afflicted COVID-19 patients has not been investigated longitudinally so far. Methods: Several new serological methods to examine these parameters were developed and validated for the longitudinal investigation in three patients of a family which underwent a mild course of COVID-19. Findings: We observed that the virus load had almost completely disappeared after about four weeks, whereas serum antibodies showed a contrasting course. IgA levels to S1-RBD-protein and, to a lesser extent, to the N-protein, peaked about three weeks after clinical disease onset but declined soon thereafter. IgG levels rose continuously, reaching a plateau approximately six weeks after disease onset. NAbs in serum reached a peak about four weeks after disease onset but dropped to a lower level about six weeks later. Interpretation: Our data establishes associations of virus neutralization and a serological immune response foremost against Sars-CoV-2 S1-RDB-protein in a longitudinal manner.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 360-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Yamakami ◽  
Hideaki Tsumori ◽  
Yoshitaka Shimizu ◽  
Yutaka Sakurai ◽  
Kohei Nagatoshi ◽  
...  

An oral infectious disease, dental caries, is caused by the cariogenic streptococci Streptococcus mutans. The expected preventive efficiency for prophylactics against dental caries is not yet completely observed. Nisin, a bacteriocin, has been demonstrated to be microbicidal against S. mutans, and liposome-encapsulated nisin improves preventive features that may be exploited for human oral health. Here we examined the bactericidal effect of charged lipids on nisin-loaded liposomes against S. mutans and inhibitory efficiency for insoluble glucan synthesis by the streptococci for prevention of dental caries. Cationic liposome, nisin-loaded dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/phytosphingosine, exhibited higher bactericidal activities than those of electroneutral liposome and anionic liposome. Bactericidal efficiency of the cationic liposome revealed that the vesicles exhibited sustained inhibition of glucan synthesis and the lowest rate of release of nisin from the vesicles. The optimizing ability of cationic liposome-encapsulated nisin that exploit the sustained preventive features of an anti-streptococcal strategy may improve prevention of dental caries.


1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Takehara ◽  
T. Ansai ◽  
Y. Yamashita ◽  
M. Itoh-Andoh ◽  
N. Hanada ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Buwembo William ◽  
Charles Mugisha Rwenyonyi ◽  
Göte Swedberg ◽  
Fred Kironde

The selection of antibiotic resistance by cotrimoxazole prophylaxis was evaluated, and we characterized the mechanism of cotrimoxazole resistance inStreptococcus mutansandStreptococcus sobrinus.In vitrosusceptibility to six antibiotics was evaluated on 64 mutans streptococci group (MSG) isolates from a cotrimoxazole prophylaxis group and compared to 84 MSG isolates from a nonprophylaxis group. ThefolAandfolPgenes were sequenced and compared with reference sequences at NCBI. Only resistance to cotrimoxazole was significantly higher in the prophylaxis group (54.7% versus 15.5%,OR=6.59, 95% CI: 2.89–15.3,P<0.05). Resistance to amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and tetracycline was 1.4%, 25.5%, 6.2%, 6.5%, and 29.6% of the isolates, respectively. Considerable polymorphisms were found in thefolPgene inS. mutans, but this could not be linked to sulfonamide drug resistance. No variation was seen infolPorfolAgenes ofS. sobrinus. Genetic transfer of folate pathway genes seems unlikely in these isolates.


Author(s):  
Listyaning Kartiko Kinasih ◽  
Idamawati Nababan ◽  
Suci Erawati ◽  
Rouli Natasia M Simanjuntak

Intoduction: Health is the condition of the entire body and body parts of an individual who is free from disease both physically, mentally and socially, thus enabling the individual to be able to carry out daily activities more productively. However, many people neglect their own health, especially in the field of dental and oral health. Caries is one of the most common oral and dental problems. The prevalence of dental caries in Indonesia is high, namely 88.8%. Dental caries is caused by Streptococcus mutans bacteria which plays a role in the conversion of sucrose to lactic acid. Infection due to Streptococcus mutans bacteria can be treated by taking antibiotics. Apart from drugs, antibiotics can also be obtained from natural ingredients, one of which is the tintir castor plant (Jatropha multifida Linn) or commonly known as the betadine. Objective: To see the effect of the antibacterial content of tintir leaves against Streptococcus mutans bacteria and to determine the differences in the antibacterial effect of betadine leaf extract (Jatropha multifida L.) from a concentration of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% against Streptococcus mutans. Methods: The type of research used in this study was a laboratory experimental study with a post-test-only control group design as the research design and to test the sensitivity of bacteria using the paper disc diffusion test. Data analysis using One-Way ANOVA. Result: The results of this study indicate the effect of tintir castor leaf extract (Jatropha multifida L.) in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria.


Parasitology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 134 (9) ◽  
pp. 1163-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. HATANAKA ◽  
N. UMEDA ◽  
S. YAMASHITA ◽  
N. HIRAZAWA

SUMMARYThe ciliated protozoanCryptocaryon irritans, a parasite of seawater fishes, was found to express an antigen that elicits antibodies in rabbits and tiger puffer (Takifugu ruburipes). Serum from rabbits and fish immunized with theronts had agglutination/immobilization activity against therontsin vitro; fish serum antibody levels (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays: ELISA) correlated with this activity. Anti-theront antibody levels in fish were significantly higher in the immunized group as compared with control fish at 2 weeks after booster immunization (injection of bovine serum albumin; Student'st-test,P<0·01). Biochemical analyses indicated that a Triton X-114-soluble 32 kDa theront integral membrane protein may be the agglutination/immobilization antigen. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of theronts suggested that this 32 kDa antigen was expressed on the surface of cilia. The full-length 32 kDa antigen cDNA contained 1147 basepairs, encoding a 328-amino acid protein including hydrophobic N- and C-termini. As withTetrahymenaandParameciumspp., TAA and TAG appear to be used as glutamine codons in the 32 kDa antigen gene.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Kausar Alam ◽  
Li Zheng ◽  
Ruirui Liu ◽  
Silvana Papagerakis ◽  
Petros Papagerakis ◽  
...  

Abstract Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the main causative agents of human dental caries. Current strategies for treating caries are costly and do not completely eradicate them completely. Passive immunization using nonhuman antibodies against Streptococcal surface antigens has shown success in human trials, however they often invoke immune reactions. We used phage display to generate human antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. These Fabs were readily expressed in E. coli and bound to the surface S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Fabs inhibited sucrose-induced S. mutans and S. sobrinus biofilm formation in vitro and a combination of S. mutans and S. sobrinus Fabs prevented dental caries formation in a rat caries model. These results demonstrated that S. mutans and S. sobrinus Fabs could be used in passive immunization strategies to prevent dental caries. In the future, this strategy may be applied towards a caries therapy, whereby Fabs are topically applied to the tooth surface.


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