title: Therapeutic effect of llama derived VHH fragments against Streptococcus mutans on the development of dental caries.
abstract: Streptococcus mutans is the main cause of dental caries. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of variable regions of a llama heavy chain antibody fragments directed against S. mutans named S36-VHH (S for Streptococcus) alone or fused with glucose oxidase (GOx) from Aspergillus niger. Western blot analysis and ELISA revealed binding of the S36-VHH to the streptococcal antigen I/II adhesin molecule of S. mutans serotype C. In a rat-desalivated caries model, daily administration of S36-VHH significantly reduced the development of smooth surface caries. No additional therapeutic effect of GOx was observed. Our results suggest that llama VHH antibodies may be a potential benefit as prophylaxis against dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 141 86, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hultberg
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marcotte
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bezemer
authors.forename: Leon G J
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Frenken
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hammarström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D000922:Immunotoxins; D005949:Glucose Oxidase