Modification of experimental Porphyromonas gingivalis murine infection by immunization with a polysaccharide‐protein conjugate

Abstract

To better understand the role of the capsular polysaccharide in the virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, the effect of immunization with a polysaccharide-protein conjugate on experimental murine infection was evaluated. The conjugate was prepared using polysaccharide isolated from P. gingivalis strain ATCC 53977 and bovine serum albumin. One group of 22 mice was immunized by intraperitoneal injection with the conjugate and a control group of 25 mice was similarly immunized with bovine serum albumin. Serum antibody reactive to the polysaccharide, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was elevated in the group of mice immunized with the polysaccharide-protein conjugate but not in the mice immunized with bovine serum albumin. Both groups of mice were challenged with P. gingivalis strain ATCC 53977 (10(10) cells) administered subcutaneously on the dorsal surface. Following challenge, the mice immunized with the polysaccharide-protein conjugate appeared healthier and demonstrated less weight loss than did the control group of mice. Ulcerative lesions at secondary locations were smaller in mice immunized with the polysaccharide-protein conjugate. Thus, immunization of mice with a conjugate containing P. gingivalis polysaccharide could reduce the severity of but not prevent an invasive infection with P. gingivalis.

Intraperitoneal Immune Cell Responses to Eubacterium saphenum in Mice

“…The cell responses observed, such as early infiltration of neutrophils followed by macrophages and lymphocytes, were similar to those observed previously in infections in connective tissue (11,13,19,26) and peritoneal cavities (6, 10) after injection of various bacteria, including peritoneal injection with P. gingivalis (4,5,21,32,34). The present results also demonstrated that similar responses with slight differences were caused by intraperitoneal injection of equivalent amounts of Gram-positive E. saphenum (Fig.…”

Induction of the immune response to periodontopathic bacteria and its role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis

“…gingivulis polysaccharide reduced the severity of infection, but could not prevent invasive infection with I? gingivulis (202). Genco et al (71) analyzed phenol-water extracts from I!…”

Mucosal Vaccines for Dental Diseases

“…Immune responses elicited to capsular polysaccharides of P. gingivalis decreased tissue destruction initiated by P. gingivalis infectious challenge (Schifferle et al, 1993). Other investigations (Evans et al, 1992a;Kusumoto et al, 1993) demonstrated the ability of antibody to interfere with fimbrial function (adherence of P. gingivalis to oral tissues) in colonization and subsequent disease related to infection by P. gingivalis.…”