Specific inhibition of adsorption of Actinomyces viscosus T14V to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite by antibody against type 1 fimbriae

Abstract

Specific antibodies and their Fab fragments were used to study adsorption of Antinomyces viscosus T14V to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite. Antibody against A. viscosus T14V blocked adsorption of the strain to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite, and this activity was removed after preincubation of the immune immunoglobulin G (IgG) with purified type 1 fimbriae in amounts near equivalence but not after preincubation with type 2 fimbriae in antigen excess. Specific IgG or Fab fragments against type 1 fimbriae inhibited adsorption of strain T14V to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite and promoted desorption of cells already attached to the apatite surface. Anti-type 2 IgG or Fab fragments did not possess these activities. These data demonstrate that type 1 but not type 2 fimbriae mediate adsorption of strain T14V to the saliva-treated hydroxyapatite surface.