title: Ingestion of Streptococcus mutans induces secretory immunoglobulin A and caries immunity.
abstract: Ingestion of killed cells of a highly cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans induced specific antibodies in both saliva and milk but not in serum of gnotobiotic rats. These antibodies were associated with the immunoglobulin A class. When infected with Streptococcus mutans, orally immunized animals developed significantly fewer carious lesions than nonimmunized infected controls.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A