PREDICTION OF VACCINE CANDIDATES FOR DENTAL CARIES USING IMMUNOINFORMATIC

Abstract

Despite the existing preventive measures, dental caries stays one of the most pervasive infection in human. Epidemiological studies imply that there is a recent increase in dental caries in children. Conventionally, Streptococcus mutans has been considered as the earliest colonizer of cavity and the main causing agent of dental caries. However, there are reports where other microbes have resulted in

dental caries even in not presence of S.mutans. These studies support the poly- microbial nature of this disease and the use of immunization strategies using

vaccine targets shared by various pathogens associated with the procedure of tooth decay. Till date, almost all the efforts put in to immunize people against caries have targeted S.mutans only. Only a few studies have tried to develop vaccines targeting both S.mutans and S.sobrinus with little or no success. This study, aimed at preventing dental caries, provides the basis for identification of vaccine candidates for developing a dental caries vaccine that can elicit both B and T Cell mediated immune response against multiple cariogenic microorganisms. A novel strategy has been utilized to Anticipate such antigenic B-cell epitopes which contain T-cell epitopes also.