Novel Epitopic Region of Glucosyltransferase B from Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

In the development of a component vaccine against caries, the catalytic region (CAT) and glucan-binding domain (GBD) of glucosyltransferase B (GtfB) from Streptococcus mutans have been employed as target antigens. These regions were adopted as primary targets because they theoretically include epitopes associated with enzyme function. However, their antigenicities have not been fully evaluated. Although there are many reports about successful vaccination using these components, the principle has not yet been put to practical use. For these reasons, we came to doubt the effectiveness of the epitopes in vaccine production and reevaluated the antigenic region of GtfB by using in silico analyses combined with in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results suggested that the ca. 360-amino-acid variable region (VR) in the N terminus of GtfB is more reactive than CAT and GBD. This region is S. mutans and/or GtfB specific, nonconserved among other streptococcal Gtfs, and of unknown function. Immunization using an adenovirus vector-borne DNA vaccine confirmed that VR is an epitope that shows promise for the development of a caries vaccine.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Self-assembling anticaries mucosal vaccine containing ferritin cage nanostructure and glucan-binding region ofS. mutansglucosyltransferase effectively prevents caries formation in rodents

“…For example, novel epitopes of S. mutants have been studied for years. 24,25,26 Our current studies focus on developing highly efficacious vaccines through the identification of the most immunogenic T and B cells epitopes. The synthesis of platforms bearing both peptide epitopes and a lipophilic moiety is now considered a valuable way to produce self-adjuvanting constructs that allow overcoming intrinsic low peptide immunogenicity.…”

Vaccine against Dental Caries: An Update

“…These regions have been selected because, in theory, they include epitopes associated with its enzymatic function. [40] found that the variable region (VR) at the N-terminal of GtfB is specific to S. mutans and is not conserved among other streptococcal Gtfs, being a promising epitope for the development of an effective vaccine.…”

Effects of soybean milk, chitosan, and anti-Streptococcus mutans IgY in malnourished rats’ dental biofilm and the IgY persistency in saliva

“…RISKESDAS stated that, in 2007, caries prevalence in Indonesia is 46.5% [7]. There have been various eff orts that were attempted in preventing carries, including through active and passive immunization [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Recently, passive immunization and anti-microbial substances are the two things that are mostly utilized for the development of caries vaccines [14][15][16][17].…”