Identification of a repeated epitope recognized by human serum antibodies in a surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans.
This study determined the antigen determinants of a 190-kDa protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans that is involved in the initial attachment to the tooth surface. In 5 subjects, the reactivities of serum antibodies to 7 overlapping surface protein antigen fragments covering the entire antigen molecule and 19 sequential overlapping synthetic 19-mer peptides covering the entire A-region of the surface protein antigen were examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study showed that the A-region of the antigen is strongly immunogenic in humans and contains several widely distributed epitopes. In addition, an amino acid sequence of the one of dominant epitopes in a certain subject was identified as LTAENTAI with ELISA inhibition assays using the relevant truncated peptides. This epitope was located both at the positions from L-346 to I-364 and L-430 to E-437 of the antigen molecule, and serum antibodies against the epitope were found in 3 of the 5 subjects.
Senpuku
H
H
Department of Oral Science, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
Nakai
M
M
Koga
T
T
Hanada
N
N
Nisizawa
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014612:Vaccines