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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae
Published on: January 17, 2014
Immune response in humans to a nasal boost with Streptococcus mutans antigens
N K Childers1, F Li, A P Dasanayake
1School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294-0007, USA. nkc@uab.edu
Abstract:
We previously reported that a Streptococcus mutans enriched-glucosytransferase (E-GTF) preparation induces an immune response following intranasal, but not tonsillar, immunization of humans. In this study, we determined whether intranasal immunization of these subjects 2 years later resulted in augmented immune responses compared to those seen in control subjects. Subjects previously immunized via the intranasal (IN, n = 7) or tonsillar (IT, n = 7) route and control (n = 12) subjects were immunized via the intranasal route with E-GTF. Nasal wash, saliva, and serum were collected before immunization and then weekly for 3 months after immunization. Significant (P < 0.05) mucosal and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-E-GTF responses were observed in all three groups. Nasal and serum IgA anti-E-GTF responses were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the IN group. The salivary responses in the three groups were, in general, similar. These results indicate that intranasal immunization primes the immune system for a localized secondary response to S. mutans antigens.
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