Antibody Responses to Antigens of Streptococcus mutans in Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) Immunized against Dental Caries

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Abstract
Immunization of rabbits or monkeys with cell walls prepared from S. mutans by a procedure including extraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate at room-temperature induced antibodies to 3 antigens (A, B and C) detectable by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Antigens A and B have previously been characterized as proteins of MW 29,000 and 190,000, respectively. Antigen C was characterized as having a MW of 70,000 and was purified by immunosorbent affinity chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Another wall protein, antigen D, of MW 13,000, was extracted from cell walls with Triton X-100. Immunization of monkeys with cell walls prepared from cultures of S. mutans grown at a high (0.5 h-1) or low (0.05 h-1) dilution rate in a chemostat showed that only the latter induced protection against dental caries. There was a positive correlation between levels of antibody to antigens A and C and induction of protection and a negative correlation between protection and the level of antibody to antigen B. No antibody to antigen D was detected in protected monkey; an experiment in which monkeys were immunized with pure antigen D confirmed that it does not induce protection.