SPECIALIZED CARIES RESEARCH CENTER

该中心的主要目标是研究 免疫系统、婴儿的原生生物群和龋齿之间的关系 结果。 拟议的项目涉及 母亲的免疫系统和土著生物群与婴儿的免疫系统和土著生物群有很大的不同。 通过专门研究土著生物群的成员， 与龋齿有关，以及免疫系统的作用 在这些致龋菌的殖民化过程中，我们可以深入了解为什么一些 有些人表现出疾病，而另一些人则没有。 干预试验 将与自然历史研究并行进行， 母亲变异链球菌感染水平的改变 影响儿童的龋齿获得并最终影响儿童的龋齿经历。 该提案的目标人群包括非裔美国人 来自亚拉巴马伯明翰的家庭。 我们把研究范围限制在这一组 原因有两个：1）非洲裔美国人的患病率较高， 龋齿的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龋齿的方法， 传统上得不到充分服务的人群。 2)通过约束 我们的研究人群，我们将有更多的权力， 微生物和免疫学参数的变化较小， 研究群体的遗传组成。 该中心将进行与四种可能途径有关的研究， 预防或改变致龋细菌的定植：1） 预防传播或母体变异链球菌（MS）， （2）基本和必要的信息， 开发针对龋齿的疫苗，3）暂时获得 可能竞争或增加致龋潜力的土著生物群 已知的致龋细菌如MS，和4）设计预测模型 基于可能有助于预测儿童 在龋齿发生之前就处于危险之中。 项目1为上述干预试验。 项目2关注 土著生物群的个体发育问题， 婴儿和他们来自哪里的来源。 项目3记录了 婴儿的粘膜免疫系统的发展，以响应特定的 抗原以及母体免疫球蛋白在形成 这种反应。 项目4研究了MHC基因的作用， 母亲对全球免疫反应的“印记”，并探索“自我” 与“非自我”，因为它涉及到土著细菌生物群。 一个 分析/生物统计学、受试者招募、样本采集，以及 行政核心支持四个中心项目。 该中心的广泛和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，其目标是解决 人类的临床问题 要做到这一点，基础知识 关于上述问题，必须首先解决。 大部分 拟议的研究是对新模式的测试，因此是基本的。 尽管如此，该中心显然侧重于这一基本信息， 有助于临床结果。

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.