Insight into status of dental caries vaccination: A review

Polymerase chain reaction-based identification of various serotypes of Streptococcus mutans in adults with and without dental caries

Background

Dental caries is a multistep process which initiates the development of plaque' defined as a structured biofilm containing microbial communities. Teeth provide unique surfaces for bacterial colonization. Serotypes of Streptococcus mutans implicate the development of dental caries.

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and association of serotypes of S. mutans in groups with and without dental caries.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and fifty adults aged between 18 and 35 years were included in the study. Supragingival plaque samples were collected, followed by deoxyribonucleic acid extraction. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify S. mutans and its serotypes. Proportions of S. mutans and its serotypes were correlated with caries-active (CA) and caries-free (CF) groups.

Results

CA group showed 66.7% positivity for S. mutans and CF group showed only 42.7% of positivity. Serotype C showed a higher proportion followed by E' F, and K in the CA group, whereas in the CF group, higher proportion was observed with K followed by C' E, and F. 70.8% cases showed single serotype in the CA group and 83.3% in CF group. Multiple serotypes were seen in 29.2% in the CA group and 16.7% in the CF group.

Conclusions

The study clearly established variation in proportions of S. mutans and its serotypes between CA and CF groups. Positive correlation was observed in the CA group for S. mutans and its serotypes.

CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE COURSE OF CARIES IN YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED A CORONAVIRUS INFECTION

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To establish the clinical and immunological features of the course of caries in young people who have suffered from the coronavirus disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The main group consisted of 30 people aged 20,6±2,4 years who suffered from the Covid19 coronavirus infection 6,1±1,2 months ago. All patients underwent a dental and immunological examination.

RESULTS

Results: The analysis of the indicators of the dental status revealed the possibility of the existence of a relationship between the signs of the transferred acute viral infection SARS-Cov2 and the development of dental caries, first, under the condition of reduced caries resistance. In the immune system of the examined patients were found significant changes, which definitely played a pathogenetic role in the development and progression of the carious process. They were manifested by changes of varying degrees of severity, which were both unidirectional and opposite in nature: T-lymphocyte deficiency, in particular, mainly due to T-cytotoxic lymphocytes/suppressors, an increased level of B-lymphocytes and an increased level of activated CD54+ cells of T-lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: In young people with dental caries who have suffered a coronavirus infection during the last 6 months, the prevalence of caries and its intensity are significantly higher than in the comparison group. Violations in the cellular and humoral links of the immune system, which combined with the pro-in¬flammatory profile of the blood serum, the phenomenon of immunotoxicosis, contributed to the further progression of the carious process in the oral cavity.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Current Landscape of Global Scientific Production on the Development of Vaccines against Dental Caries

Objective. To perform a bibliometric analysis of the scientific research on the development of vaccines against dental caries. Methods. An extraction of the scientific production published on the development of vaccines against dental caries between 2011 and 2020 was carried out from the Scopus database. Microsoft Excel was used for the elaboration of tables and SciVal for the bibliometric analysis of the data, which were divided into indicators of production, impact, and collaboration. Finally, VOSviewer was used for co-occurrence analysis of keywords and collaborative networks. Results. 106 studies were retrieved from the Scopus database, which were conducted on the development of dental caries vaccines within the years 2011–2020. Wuhan University, in China, was the university with the highest scientific production on the subject, with 4 publications. Regarding the most productive journals, the first place was occupied by the Journal of Dental Research with 7 publications. Regarding the most productive journals, the first place was occupied by the Journal of Dental Research with 7 publications. The highest percentage of the documents analyzed was in quartile 1 journals and in the national collaboration pattern. Conclusion. Most of the manuscripts regarding the development of vaccines against dental caries were published in China and in Q1 quartile journals. In addition, Yan Huimin, Yang Jingyi, Zhou Dihan, Yang Yi, Li Yuhong and Fan Mingwen were found to top the list of most productive authors. The Journal of Dental Research was also identified as the most productive and cited journal.