Development of a new vaccine strategy against human dental caries based on the PstS protein of Streptococcus mutans

• Grant number: 13/01362-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Rita de Cássia Café Ferreira
• Grantee: Ewerton Lucena Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The functional role of certain ABC transport systems in bacterial virulence suggest that components of these systems may be used as promising targets for vaccine strategies against infectious diseases. In a previous study our group demonstrated that knockout of inorganic phosphate binding protein (PstS) in Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of dental caries, has influence in some of its major virulence factors. Human dental caries is an infectious disease with worldwide distribution, which there is no vaccine available despite the huge effort made in the last few decades. Thus, the aim of this project is the immune characterization of a new anti-caries mucosal vaccine strategy based on S. mutans PstS protein as the target antigen. The project foresee the production of PstS protein using two expression systems, one based on recombinant strain of E. coli and the other based on recombinant strain of B. subtilis. With the purified recombinant proteins it will be determined their antigenic characteristics using antibodies raised against all bacteria and against two forms of the protein (denatured by heat and untreated). Then the immunogenic properties of the PstS protein will be evaluated through mucosal administration by nasal and sublingual routes in combination with a potent adjuvant, the LTK4R, a non-toxic variant of the Heat-Labile Toxin (LT) of E. coli ETEC. Humoral serum (IgG) and mucosal (salivary IgA) responses against PstS will be monitored by ELISA assay. Finally, we will determine the functional role of antibodies anti-PstS in the S. mutans process of adhesion or biofilm formation on abiotic surface. From the proposed research we hope to obtain data that contribute to the determination of a new antigen of S. mutans that can be used in vaccine strategies against dental caries.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERREIRA, E. L.; BATISTA, M. T.; CAVALCANTE, R. C. M.; PEGOS, V. R.; PASSOS, H. M.; SILVA, D. A.; BALAN, A.; FERREIRA, L. C. S.; FERREIRA, R. C. C.. Sublingual immunization with the phosphate-binding-protein (PstS) reduces oral colonization by Streptococcus mutans. Molecular Oral Microbiology, v. 31, n. 5, p. 410-422, OCT 2016. (13/01362-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FERREIRA, Ewerton Lucena. Development of a new vaccine strategy against human dental caries based on the PstS protein of Streptococcus mutans.. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.