IMMUNIZATION OF RATS WITH SYNTHETIC PEPTIDE CONSTRUCTS FROM THE GLUCAN-BINDING OR CATALYTIC REGION OF MUTANS STREPTOCOCCAL GLUCOSYLTRANSFERASE PROTECTS AGAINST DENTAL-CARIES
Ma. Taubman et al., IMMUNIZATION OF RATS WITH SYNTHETIC PEPTIDE CONSTRUCTS FROM THE GLUCAN-BINDING OR CATALYTIC REGION OF MUTANS STREPTOCOCCAL GLUCOSYLTRANSFERASE PROTECTS AGAINST DENTAL-CARIES, Infection and immunity, 63(8), 1995, pp. 3088-3093
Previously, we have described peptide constructs from two regions of g
lucosyltransferase (GTF) of mutans streptococci. A putative catalytic
site in the amino-terminal half of the molecule and a repeated glucan-
binding site in the carboxyl-terminal half of GTF were the regions upo
n which sequences were based. The present study explored the effects o
f immunization with these peptide constructs (called CAT or GLU) and w
ith streptococcal GTFs from Streptococcus sobrinus and S. mutans on im
munological, microbiological, and disease parameters, Groups of immuni
zed Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with either 10(8) S. sobrinus 67
15 or 10(8) S. mutans SJ32 organisms. Serum immunoglobulin G antibody
levels, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, to the respec
tive peptide constructs and to the appropriate streptococcal GTP were
significantly increased (after immunization) prior to infection and at
the end of the experiment. Also, serum antibody from CAT-, GLU-, and
S. sobrinus GTF-immunized rats inhibited S. sobrinus GTF-mediated inso
luble glucan synthesis (all) and S. mutans GTF-mediated soluble glucan
synthesis (all except anti-GLU) from sucrose. Immunization with the C
AT or GLU peptide construct resulted in significantly reduced smooth s
urface and sulcal caries after infection with S. sobrinus. Sulcal dent
al caries after infection with S. mutans SJ32 were also significantly
reduced in CAT- and GLU-immunized rats. Thus, immunization with peptid
es whose sequences are based on putative functional domains of mutans
streptococcal GTF are protective toward a cariogenic S. sobrinus or S.
mutans infection.