Identification of human antigenic epitopes in an alanine-rich repeating region using sera from hu-PBL-SCID mice immunized with a surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans.

A 190-kDa surface protein antigen (PAc) of Streptococcus mutans is considered to play an important role in dental caries. To identify antigenic epitopes of the PAc in humans, we immunized severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with recombinant PAc that was transplanted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The reactivities of the sera from the immunized hu-PBL-SCID mice to the recombinant PAc and 24 19-mer synthetic peptides covering the alanine-rich repeating region (A-region) presented in the PAc molecule were then examined. The results showed that the immunized mice produced a significant recombinant PAc-specific human antibody, and among 24 19-mer peptides, 6 19-mer peptides showed a strong reaction with the antibodies. In addition, 4 19-mer peptides containing human antigenic epitope in a donor were identified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition assays using the recombinant PAc protein. In this study, the SCID mouse was useful in identifying human antigenic epitopes.