title: Inhibition by yeast killer toxin-like antibodies of oral Streptococci adhesion to tooth surfaces in an ex vivo model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Monoclonal (KTmAb) and recombinant (KTscFv) anti-idiotypic antibodies, representing the internal image of a yeast killer toxin, proved to be microbicidal in vitro against important eukaryotic and prokaryotic pathogens such as Candida albicans, Pneumocystis carinii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, including multidrug-resistant strains. KTmAb and KTscFv exerted a strong therapeutic effect in well-established animal models of candidiasis and pneumocystosis. Streptococcus mutans is the most important etiologic agent of dental caries that might result from the metabolic end products of dental plaque. Effective strategies to reduce the disease potential of dental plaque have considered the possibility of using antibiotics or antibodies against oral streptococci in general and S. mutans in particular. In this study, the activity of KTmAb and KTscFv against S. mutans and the inhibition and reduction by KTmAb of dental colonization by S. mutans and other oral streptococci in an ex vivo model of human teeth were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  KTscFv and KTmAb were used in a conventional colony forming unit (CFU) assay against a serotype C strain of S. mutans, and other oral streptococci (S. intermedius, S. mitis, S. oralis, S. salivarius). An ex vivo model of human teeth submerged in saliva was used to establish KTmAb potential of inhibiting or reducing the adhesion to dental surfaces by S. mutans and other oral streptococci.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KTmAb and KTscFv kill in vitro S. mutans and other oral streptococci. KTmAb inhibit colonization of dental surfaces by S. mutans and oral streptococci in the ex vivo model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Killer antibodies with antibiotic activity or their engineered derivatives may have a potential in the prevention of dental caries in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina di Laboratorio, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Magliani
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arseni
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frazzi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salati
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ravanetti
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polonelli
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009183:Mycotoxins