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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, November 2001, p. 1136-1139, Vol. 8, No. 6
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyushu
University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka
812-8582,1 Department of Oral Health,
Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo,
010-8310,2 University Farm, Kyushu
University Faculty of Agriculture, Fukuoka
811-2307,3 and Department of Animal and
Marine Bioresource Science, Kyushu University Faculty of
Agriculture, Fukuoka 812-8581,4 Japan
Received 9 May 2001/Returned for modification 23 July 2001/Accepted 17 August 2001
Cell surface protein antigen (PAc) and water-insoluble
glucan-synthesizing enzyme (GTF-I) produced by cariogenic
Streptococcus mutans are two major factors implicated in
the colonization of the human oral cavity by this bacterium. We
examined the effect of bovine milk, produced after immunization with a
fusion protein of functional domains of these proteins, on the
recolonization of S. mutans. To prepare immune milk,
a pregnant Holstein cow was immunized with the fusion protein
PAcA-GB, a fusion of the saliva-binding alanine-rich region (PAcA) of
PAc and the glucan-binding (GB) domain of GTF-I. After eight adult
subjects received cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) treatment, one
subgroup (n = 4) rinsed their mouths with immune milk
and a control group (n = 4) rinsed with nonimmune milk. S. mutans levels in saliva and dental plaque
decreased after CPC treatment in both groups. Mouth rinsing with immune
milk significantly inhibited recolonization of S. mutans in
saliva and plaque. On the other hand, the numbers of S. mutans cells in saliva and plaque in the control group increased
immediately after the CPC treatment and surpassed the baseline level 42 and 28 days, respectively, after the CPC treatment. The ratios of
S. mutans to total streptococci in saliva and plaque in the
group that received immune milk were lower than those in the control
group. These results suggest that milk produced from immunized cow may
be useful for controlling S. mutans in the human oral cavity.
1071-412X/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.8.6.1136-1139.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Passive Immunization with Milk Produced from an Immunized Cow
Prevents Oral Recolonization by Streptococcus
mutans
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Preventive Dentistry, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science,
3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. Phone:
81-92-642-6350. Fax: 81-92-642-6354. E-mail:
toshidha{at}mbox.nc.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
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