title: [Immunization of rats with a targeted fusion anticaries DNA vaccine].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the expression of a targeted fusion anticaries DNA vaccine pGJA-P in situ. To compare the levels of specific antibodies and anticaries efficacy generated by pGJA-P and pGLUA-P, a fusion anticaries DNA vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  pGJA-P was administrated intramuscularly or intranasally to rats, and the expression of recombinant protein was detected by immunohistochemistry technique. Wistar rats were fed a cariogenic diet and orally infected with S. mutans, then immunized with pGJA-P or pGLUA-P via the intramuscular or intranasal route. All rats received a booster immunization 2 weeks later. At the termination of the experiment, blood and saliva samples were collected for assay of antibodies by ELISA and jaws were obtained for caries evaluation by the Keyes method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recombinant protein could be detected in muscle in intramuscularly immunized rats and in nasal mucosa in intranasally immunized rats. Rats immunized intramuscularly with pGJA-P had significantly higher serum IgG levels than others (P < 0.01). Rats immunized intranasally or intramuscularly with pGJA-P had significantly higher salivary IgA levels than others (P < 0.01). Keyes scores of pGJA-P groups were significantly lower than those of pGLUA-P groups and pCI groups (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pGJA-P could be correctly expressed in vivo. pGJA-P generated increased humoral immune response and anticaries efficacy compared with pGLUA-P.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China. kqyywjtx@public.wh.hb.cn
authors.forename: Ming-Wen
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Qing-An
authors.initials: QA
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Ji-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003086:Bacteriocin Plasmids / Q000276:immunology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA