Passive immunization with antisera to Streptococcus mutans in the prevention of caries in rhesus monkeys.

1) The immunological mechanism of protection against dental caries has been investigated by passive immunization with antisera to S. mutans in the rhesus monkey. 2) Passive immunization with separated IgG, IgM and IgA from sera of immunized monkeys supports the concept that IgG, unlike IgA or IgM antibodies are protective.

A sequential bacteriological and serological investigation of Rhesus monkeys immunised against dental caries with Streptococcus mutans.

In a serial investigation of the effects of immunisation with S. mutans in rhesus monkeys maintained on a "human" type of cariogenic diet, the numbers of S. mutans in cervical plaque, crevicular-fluid washings, fissures of teeth, and in saliva were lower in immunised animals than in sham-immunised controls.

Serum glucosyltransferase-inhibiting antibodies and dental caries in rhesus monkeys immunized against Streptococcus mutans.

Serum antibodies to glucosyltransferase (GTF) of Streptococcus mutans serotype c were assayed sequentially by means of an enzyme inhibition radio-assay in twenty-six Rhesus monkeys immunized with S. mutans. Pre-immune and control sera had a GTP-enhancing effect which was shown also by albumin and non-immune immunoglobulin fractions.

Serum and salivary antibodies to cariogenic bacteria in man.

Antibodies in serum and parotid saliva against cell wall preparations from four serotypes of S mutans were examined in 110 subjects aged 18 to 25 years. In subjects with no detectable carious lesions, significant negative correlations were found between the DMF index and serum IgG and IgM antibodies, especially in S mutans of serotype c, whereas positive correlations were found between the DMF index and salivary IgA antibodies. In subjects with active caries, positive correlations were found between serum IgG antibodies and S mutans (serotypes c and a) and the DMF index.

Immunologic basis for vaccination against dental caries in rhesus monkeys.

The effects of immunization with Streptococcus mutans on the development of caries and the immune responses were investigated in 37 young rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) during a period of up to 33 months. The monkeys were supplied a human type of carbohydrate-rich diet that contained about 15% sucrose. The monkeys were separated into seven groups, and the effects of two whole cell vaccines and an extracellular culture extract of S mutans in Freund's incomplete adjuvant were compared with a vaccine of a noncariogenic Streptococcus CHT, the adjuvant alone, and a sham immunized group.

Immunoconglutinins and C3 in human saliva.

High titres of immunoconglutinin activity (antibody to bound complement components) have been found in the parotid, sublingual and submandibular saliva of most healthy subjects. The immunoconglutinin (IK) titre in mixed saliva was substantially lower than in the other samples of saliva. C3 was detectable in only three of 164 samples of parotid, submandibular and sublingual saliva but was present in forty-seven of 117 mixed saliva samples.

Sequential cell-mediated immune responses in experimental gingivitis in man.

Sequential changes in cell-mediated immune responses were examined in ten young healthy subjects who abstained from routine oral hygiene measures for 28 days. Accumulation of bacterial plaque on the teeth and the associated gingival inflammation were correlated with an increase in lymphocyte transformation and macrophage migration inhibition reactions to sonicates of autologous bacterial plaque, a number of Gram-negative endotoxin-containing organisms, , and . A biphasic response in lymphocyte transformation was found with two peaks at day 14 and day 28 to day 35, and this was also found with purified protein derivative.

The specificity of serum factors in lymphocyte transformation in periodontal disease.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with periodontal disease were stimulated by sonicates of in the presence of autologous and substituted sera which were either untreated or absorbed with cells. A significant positive correlation was found between the level of lymphocyte stimulation and IgM class of haemagglutinating antibody titres in patients with mild periodontitis (MP) (<0·01) but not in those with gingivitis (G), severe periodontitis (SP) or in the control group (C). Absorption of autologous serum with a suspension of cells resulted in a depression of lymphocyte stimulation by antigen in G or MP patients, but had no effect on lymphocyte stimulation in SP patients.