Human Leucocyte Antigen Profile and Transmission of Mutans Streptococci in Mother-Child Pairs.

Purpose: To investigate possible association between the transmission of mutans streptococci and sharing the immune system component Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) class II in mother-child pairs.

Material And Methods: Plaque samples from 43 mother-child pairs were cultivated and screened for mutans streptococci. In 14 pairs where both mother and child harboured the bacteria, the strains were genotyped by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and samples were run on PAGE gels.

HLA, salivary IgA and mutans streptococci--is there a relation?

The aim of the present studies was to investigate a possible relationship between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, colonization of mutans streptococci and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies against mutans streptococcal antigens. In the first study a strong inverse relationship between HLA-DR4 and levels of mutans streptococci was observed for a group of renal transplant patients (I). In a group with healthy blood-donors a similar trend was observed (I).