Distribution, persistence, and recall of serum and salivary antibody responses to peroral immunization with protein antigen I/II of Streptococcus mutans coupled to the cholera toxin B subunit.

After peroral immunization of mice with surface protein antigen (Ag) I/II of Streptococcus mutans conjugated to the cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit, cells actively secreting immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies specific for Ag I/II, but not for CT, were induced in the salivary glands; salivary IgA anti-Ag I/II antibodies and total salivary IgA were also elevated. The development of large numbers of IgA and IgG antibody-secreting cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen and high levels of serum IgA and IgG antibodies to Ag I/II and CT demonstrated that a response to both antigens occurred. At least two to three intragastric doses of 15 micrograms or more of Ag I/II-CTB conjugate, plus free CT as an adjuvant, were needed to induce the salivary IgA anti-Ag I/II response, which peaked at about 35 days and persisted at lower levels for 5 to 6 months. A single booster intragastric immunization did not induce enhanced salivary IgA anti-Ag I/II antibodies relative to the primary response, but serum IgA and IgG antibodies to both Ag I/II and CT showed evidence of marked anamnestic responses. The results indicated that relatively long-term mucosal IgA antibody responses could be induced by peroral immunization with small quantities of a CTB-conjugated protein. However, additional factors governed the distribution of cells secreting antibodies of different specificities, or capable of mounting anamnestic responses, between different compartments of the mucosal and circulatory immune systems.