The present invention concerns a vaccine against dental caries consisting of extra cellular proteins obtained from the supernatants of cultures of cariogenic Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans.
Dental caries are considered one of the most common diseases and the development of a vaccine against dental caries has been exhaustively researched for several years. Streptococcus sobrinus and streptococcus mutans are the main etiologic agents of dental caries in mammals, man inclusive. These proteins suppress host specific responses by triggering polyclonal non-specific lymphocyte activation and inducing the early production of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, in the host. The number of authorized vaccines used to confer immunity in humans represents a very small percentage of all the pathogenic microorganisms known worldwide. There is not yet available any effective vaccine against fungi, protozoa or helminths.
This vaccine prevents and treats dental infection when it occurs. The vaccination protocols are preventive and therapeutic, that is, immunization can be achieved before or after oral cavity infection with bacterium. Mammals can be immunized through different routes, such as intranasal, oral and subcutaneous.
This vaccine can be incorporated into a paste or mouthwash for the prevention of dental caries, this would considerably reduce FDA approval.
Recognition:a €2500 prize was awarded due to the effectiveness of the vaccine, this money was donated by “Bacteriological Instituto Camera Pestana”.
Pharmaceutical Industry, Dental Care Industry, Veterinary Industry.
