Preliminary results in the immunization of Irus monkeys against dental caries.

Twelve Irus monkeys were divided into four groups which were immunized with placebo, two cell wall preparations and one vaccine containing a glucosyltransferase preparation of S. mutans. After 310 days of challenge by a cariogenic diet, the caries score in all the immunized animals was below that of the controls. Furthermore, the protected animals were characterized by a high specific serum titer against the antigens used for immunization and the extension of plaque seemed to be smaller when compared with the controls.