Immunogenicity, biochemical and serological characterizations of ribosomal preparations from human oral strains of serotypes c and d of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans.
Crude ribosomal preparations of Streptococcus mutans C67-1 (serotype c) and 50B4 (serotype d) contain protein RNA and carbohydrate. Sepharose CL-2B column chromatography of preparations yielded two distinct peaks. Cell-wall carbohydrates were predominantly present in peak I; the serological activity resided mainly in peak II. The preparations contained antigens which cross-reacted with several streptococcal Lancefield antisera. Antisera prepared against the preparations cross-reacted with cell-wall proteins (NaCl extracts) and Ag I/II, but not with cell-wall carbohydrate antigens (Rantz-Randall extracts). Thus, cell-envelope protein antigens in the preparations appear to be responsible for the serological activity. The unique properties of ribosomal preparations may, apart from serological cross-reactivity, be useful in the immunological protection against dental caries.
D000917:Antibody Formation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000276:immunology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002241:Carbohydrates