Passive immunization with antisera to Streptococcus mutans in the prevention of caries in rhesus monkeys.

1. The immunological mechanism of protection against dental caries has been investigated by passive immunization with antisera to S. mutans in the rhesus monkey. 2) Passive immunization with separated IgG, IgM and IgA from sera of immunized monkeys supports the concept that IgG, unlike IgA or IgM antibodies are protective. 3) The role of cell-mediated immunity has been explored by the use of transfer factor. This showed that protection against dental caries can be elicited by passive transfer of whole immune serum and cellular immunity, but not by cellular immunity or immune serum alone. 4) The results of active and passive immunization suggests that immuno-regulation of T and B cell interactions plays an important part in the effector mechanism of opsonization, phagocytosis and killing of S. mutans.