title: Enhanced immunogenicity of an anti-caries vaccine encoding a cell-surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans by intranasal DNA prime-protein boost immunization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to enhance the specific anti-caries immunity induced by DNA prime-protein boost strategy for an A-P fragment of a cell-surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans (PAc).
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were immunized with DNA prime-protein boost, DNA-DNA or protein-protein regimens by the intranasal route, using combinations of plasmid vector (pCIA-P) that express PAc protein and a pure secretec recombinant PAc protein (rPAc). Then, a gnotobiotic mouse model was constructed 2 weeks after the last immunization, and specific immune responses in vivo and their protection against dental caries were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study revealed stronger antibody responses in the DNA prime-protein boost group compared to those elicited by either DNA-DNA vaccination or protein-protein vaccination. In particular, PAc-specific antibody concentrations were improved significantly after boosting the pCIA-P DNA-primed mice with rPAc. Moreover, protection against S. mutans challenge was obtained in the mice treated with the DNA prime-protein boost vaccination, as demonstrated by a significant reduction in S. mutans colonization compared to control mice and animals immunized with the DNA-DNA vaccination or protein-protein vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained in the present study suggest that the intranasal DNA prime-protein boost vaccination regimen is a novel strategy for the practical application of DNA vaccine against dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mingwen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA