Passive immunization by lactobacilli expressing single-chain antibodies against Streptococcus mutans.
We compared the anticariogenic effect of lactobacilli expressing a single-chain antibody (scFv) against the SA I/II adhesin of Streptococcus mutans under the control of an inducible or a constitutive promoter. Both lactobacilli expressed equal amounts of scFv and agglutinated S. mutans bacteria expressing SA I/II to a similar level. In a rat caries model, transformed lactobacilli could be detected in the oral cavity throughout the duration of the study. Transformants containing the constitutive promoter were slightly more protective than those containing the inducible promoter suggesting that continuous in situ production of scFv in the oral cavity may be therapeutically superior to intermittent production.
Krüger
Carina
C
Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska Huddinge, SE-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden.
Hultberg
Anna
A
van Dollenweerd
Craig
C
Marcotte
Harold
H
Hammarström
Lennart
L
D000371:Agglutination; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial