[A study on screening effective immunization route of anticaries DNA vaccine pcDNA3-gtfB].

OBJECTIVE

Glucosyltransferase-B (GTF-B) of Streptococcus mutans has been implicated as a principal virulent factor in the development of dental caries. The objective was to use recombined plasmid pcDNA-gtfB expressing multiple antigen of glucosyltransferase-B as gene vaccine to immunize rats through different route, and to investigate the immunization effects of immunization routes.

METHODS

A total of 18 Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, including the quadriceps injection group, the intransal irrigation group and the submandibular gland-targeted injection group. The serum IgG and salivary IgA were assayed by using ELISA after pcDNA3-gtfB immunization. The serum IgG and salivary IgA in different groups were compared using statistical one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Compared these 3 groups, the serum IgG in the quadriceps injection group was much higher than those of other two groups (P < 0.01), while the salivary IgA of the submandibular gland-targeted injection was much higher than those of other two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

It is indicated pcDNA3-gtfB is good candidate for anticarious gene vaccine, and submandibular gland-targeted injection is an effective immunization route for stimulating salivary IgA.