Effect of peroral immunization of humans with Streptococcus mutans on induction of salivary and serum antibodies and inhibition of experimental infection.

Naturally occurring antibodies reactive with Streptococcus mutans whole cells were assayed in whole saliva, parotid saliva, and blood samples collected from eight human volunteers. The levels and serotypes of indigenous S. mutans in plaque and whole saliva samples were also determined. After baseline sampling the teeth were cleaned and the subjects were inoculated with streptomycin-resistant S. mutans strains Ingbritt (serotype c) and OMZ65 (serotype g). The level of implantation and duration of colonization were determined in plaque and saliva, and antibodies reactive with these strains were monitored in saliva and serum. After the implanted bacteria were shed, the subjects wee immunized by the daily ingestion of an enteric-coated capsule containing 25 mg of Formalin-killed, freeze-dried OMZ65 cells for 3 days and inoculation was repeated. The levels of antibodies and of implantation and the duration of colonization were monitored as before. One month after the bacteria could no longer be detected, the immunization and inoculation cycle was repeated except that the subjects were immunized for 7 days. Five of the eight subjects were successfully colonized by strains Ingbritt and OMZ65. The remaining three did not become colonized with either strain. Strain OMZ65 implanted at a higher level than did strain Ingbritt. Oral immunization did not result in a detectable antibody response in saliva or serum to whole bacterial cells. However, after both the first and second immunizations there were marked reductions in the peak levels of infection and the duration of colonization of both OMZ65 and Ingbritt.