SPECIALIZED CARIES RESEARCH CENTER

该中心的主要目标是调查相互作用 在免疫系统、婴儿的本土生物群和龋齿之间 结果。建议的项目涉及两国之间的互动 母亲的免疫系统和土著生物群与婴儿的免疫系统和本土生物群的差异。 通过专门研究土著生物群的那些成员 与龋齿有关，以及免疫系统的作用 在这些钙生生物的殖民过程中，我们可以洞察为什么有些 个人表现出疾病，而其他人则没有。一项干预试验 将与一项自然历史研究平行进行，期望 母亲感染变形链球菌水平的变化 影响孩子的后天习得，并最终影响龋齿的体验。 这项提案的目标人群是非洲裔美国人。 来自阿拉巴马州伯明翰的家庭。我们把研究局限在这群人身上。 原因有两个：1)非裔美国人的患病率更高， 其龋齿严重程度高于一般人群。由此产生的结果 研究可能有助于设计出预防这一地区龋齿的方法 我们人口中传统上服务不足的一部分。2)通过约束 我们的学习人口，我们将有更多的力量来审查 微生物学和免疫学参数的变化较小 研究队列的遗传构成。 该中心将就以下四种可能的途径进行研究 防止或改变致龋菌的定植：1) 预防母体变形链球菌(MS)传播到 婴儿，2)关于以下可能性的基本和基本信息 研制预防龋齿的疫苗，3)时间习得 可能竞争或增强致龋性的本土生物群的 已知的致龋菌，如MS，以及4)设计预测模型 基于可能对预测儿童有用的测量因素 在龋齿发作之前就处于危险之中。 项目1为上述干预试验。项目2关注的问题 关于土著生物群的个体发育的问题 婴儿及其来源地。项目3记录了 婴幼儿黏膜免疫系统对特异性免疫反应的发育 抗原以及母体免疫球蛋白在整形中的作用 这种响应性。项目4研究了MHC基因和 母体在全球免疫反应上的“印记”和探索“自我” VS‘非我’，因为它与本土的细菌生物群有关。一个 分析/生物统计、受试者招聘、样本采购和 行政核心支持四个中心项目。 该中心广泛的长期目标是建立一个 由基础科学家和应用科学家组成的联盟，目标是解决 人类的临床问题。要做到这一点，基础知识 关于上述提出的问题，必须首先加以解决。世界上大部分的 提出的研究测试了新的范式，因此，这是基本的。 尽管如此，该中心显然将重点放在这一基本信息上 对临床结果有贡献。

The primary objective of this Center is to investigate the interplay between the immune system, the indigenous biota of infants and caries outcome. The proposed projects relate the interactions between the immune system and indigenous biota of the mother to those of the infant. By specifically examining those members of the indigenous biota associated with dental caries, as well as the role of the immune system in the colonization of these cariogens, we can gain insight into why some individuals manifest disease and others do not. An intervention trial will run parallel to a natural history study with the expectation that alterations in the mother's level of infection with mutans streptococci affects the acquisition and eventually, caries experience of the child. The target population for this proposal is comprised of African American families from Birmingham, Alabama. We confined our study to this group for two reasons: 1) African Americans have a higher prevalence and severity of caries than the general population. Outcomes from this research may help devise methods of preventing dental caries in this traditionally underserved segment of our population. 2) By constraining our study population, we will have more power for examining microbiological and immunological parameters by having less variation in the genetic composition of the study cohort. The Center will conduct studies relating to four possible avenues for preventing or altering the colonization of cariogenic bacteria: 1) prevention of transmission or maternal mutans streptococci (MS) to infants,, 2) basic and essential information as to the possibilities for developing a vaccine against dental caries, 3) the temporal acquisition of indigenous biota that may compete or augment the cariogenic potential of known cariogenic bacteria such as MS, and 4) devise prediction models based upon measured factors that might be useful in predicting children at risk prior to the onset of caries. Project 1 is the intervention trial mentioned above. Project 2 concerns itself with the questions as to ontogeny of the indigenous biota in infants and the source from whence they come. Project 3 documents the development of the infant's mucosal immune system in response to specific antigens as well as the effect of maternal immunoglobulins in shaping this responsiveness. Project 4 examines the role of the MHC genes and maternal 'imprinting' on the global immune response and explores 'self' vs. 'non-self' as it relates to the indigenous bacterial biota. An analytical/biostatistics, subject recruitment, sample procurement, and administrative core support the four Center projects. The broad, long-term objectives of this Center is to establish a consortium of both basic and applied scientists with the goal of solving clinical problems in humans. To do this, fundamental knowledge concerning the issues raised above must be first addressed. Much of the research proposed tests new paradigms and therefore, is basic. Nonetheless, the Center is clearly focused as to this basic information contributing to a clinical outcome.