Humoral immunity and reduced periodontal bone loss in Eikenella corrodens-monoassociated rats

Germfree Sprague-Dawley rats monoassociated with Eikenella corrodens exhibited alveolar bone loss. This progressive bone loss occurred over a period of weeks, during which time the hosts developed an immune response toward the infective microorganism. By means of repeated bacterial vaccination resulting in elevated serum antibody titers, reduced bone loss was observed.