[Effect of monoclonal antibody on the colonization of Streptococcus sobrinus and the development of dental caries in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of local application of monoclonal antibody (McAb) raised against the major cell surface protein antigen of streptococcus sobrinus (PAg) on the colonization of rats' teeth by Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus) and the development of dental caries.


METHODS
30 wistar rats were divided into three groups: group I received McAb against PAg; group II received unrelated mice ascites; group III received PBS. They were applied on six occasions. After three times of application, streptomycin resistant S. sobrinus 6715 were inoculated onto the teeth and the rats were fed with caries-inducing diet 2000#. The number of colonized S. sobrinus were counted and the presence of caries was examined by the procedure of Keyes'.


RESULTS
There was a significant lower level of colonization by S. sobrinus and lower mean caries scores treated with McAb compared with the control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Local passive immunization with McAb against PAg may be an effective way to prevent the colonization by implanted S. sobrinus and the development of dental caries.
Zhang
P
P
College of Stomatology, Hubei Medical University, Wuhan 430079.
Fan
M
M
Bian
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C082103:PAg protein, Streptococcus sobrinus