Progress in research of Streptococcus mutans surface protein P1 in the a zone and p zone

Streptococcus mutans is the major etiological agent of human dental caries.Surface protein of S.mutans plays an important role in the initial bacterial adhesion to tooth surface and bacterial aggregation.Many studies confirmed that active immunization with antigenn I/II and passive immunization with anti-protein P1 monoclonal antibody can inhibit dental caries caused by Streptococcus mutans.Therefore,P1 has been identified as a potential antigen for the development of dental caries vaccine.In this paper,the contribution of alanine-rich region,proline-rich region,and the interaction between the two regions,to antigenicity,stability and surface expression of P1 is summarized.