Researchers Use E. coli Against Tooth Decay (6/15/2007)

For most people, E. coli may as well be short for "I will make you so sick."

Researchers with the University of Louisville School of Dentistry believe that parts of the E. coli bacteria could be used to help keep people healthy — right down to their teeth.

Research fellow Shuang Liang and Georgios Hajishengallis, associate professor of dentistry, have found that removing the toxic part of an E. coli protein leaves it harmless but still able to tell the body to begin an immune response. That could make it useful for vaccines against many diseases.

Vaccines work by telling the immune system to fight disease-causing bacteria. A vaccine typically includes a harmless version of the targeted bacteria and an adjuvant, an added substance that alerts the immune system to its presence.

"The immune system must be convinced that it's faced with a dangerous infection. That's the role of an adjuvant, fooling the immune system into mounting a strong defense," Liang said.

Liang and Hajishengallis believe purified E. coli protein could be an effective adjuvant for vaccines against diseases that begin in the mouth and mucous membranes.

Targeting tooth decay

Their first goal is a vaccine against dental cavities. They will test it in mice and if things go as expected, the vaccine can eventually be tested in human volunteers.

"Tooth decay is one of the world's most common and costly diseases. An effective vaccine would help prevent much of the pain and other health issues associated with dental disease. Plus, it could save billions of dollars now being spent to repair and replace decayed teeth," Hajishengallis said.

This is not Hajishengallis's first attempt to use a toxic substance for constructive purposes. As a postdoctoral fellow, he exploited Salmonella for a vaccine against dental cavities. That study demonstrated that a cavity vaccine is possible and lead to his use of detoxified parts of bacteria rather than the whole bacteria.

Liang's work with E. coli has earned him second place at the post-doctoral level in the American Association for Dental Research Pfizer Hatton Awards competition in oral/dental/craniofacial research. Liang and Hajishengallis have since published related articles in the Journal of Immunology and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Louisville

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