Immunogenic characterization and protection against Streptococcus mutans infection induced by intranasal DNA prime-protein boost immunization.

Mucosal immune responses act as the first line of defense against dental caries. In this study, an optimal vaccination strategy was developed to enhance anti-caries mucosal immune responses. Mice and rats were vaccinated intranasally firstly with plasmid pCIA-P encoding PAc antigen of Streptococcus mutans and then with rPAc, or with pCIA-P for twice, or with rPAc protein for twice, respectively. The potential of inducing mucosal and systemic immune responses to special antigens was measured by ELISA. In addition, antibody type, cytokine production and protection effectiveness against dental caries were also evaluated. Although all immunized groups developed immune responses, the antibody responses in the DNA prime-protein boost group were stronger compared with those elicited by either the DNA vaccine or the protein vaccine. In particular, the Th1-biased response that was established by the DNA immunization was diverted to Th1/Th2-mixed response following the rPAc protein boost. Moreover, protection against S. mutans challenge was obtained in the rats treated with the DNA prime-protein boost regimen, as shown by a significant reduction in dental caries lesion, compared with the control groups immunized with the DNA or protein only. All these findings may provide useful information about effective mucosal vaccines against dental caries.