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| Author(s): |
Ewerton Lucena Ferreira
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) |
| Defense date: | 2015-05-07 |
| Examining board members: |
Rita de Cassia Cafe Ferreira;
Patricia Antonia Estima Abreu de Aniz;
Maria Leonor Sarno de Oliveira
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| Advisor: | Rita de Cassia Cafe Ferreira |
| Abstract | |
Streptococcus mutans is the main etiological agent of human dental caries, an infectious disease for which there is no vaccine available. The influence of ABC transport systems in bacterial virulence supports its use as vaccine targets. In S. mutans the phosphate binding protein (PstS) influences the expression of virulence traits. The purpose of this work was characterizing an anti-caries mucosal vaccine based on the PstS protein as target antigen. First, a recombinant form of the protein was obtained in E. coli. The biophysical characterization showed a stable secondary structure, similar to other binding proteins and able to interact with its ligand. Conserved antigenic epitopes were identified in the recombinant protein by reactivity with anti- S. mutans serum. The rPstS protein was immunogenic by the sublingual route in combination or not with LTK4R and rPstS-specific antibodies interfered with S. mutans oral colonization in vivo. The results indicated that the recombinant PstS protein can be exploited in vaccine strategies against dental caries. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/01362-3 - Development of a new vaccine strategy against human dental caries based on the PstS protein of Streptococcus mutans |
| Grantee: | Ewerton Lucena Ferreira |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |