Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
Antigen X having the following characteristics: 1. It has a molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE in the range of 3,800-4,500 daltons, 2. It is immunogenic in experimental animals, forming precipitating antibodies, 3. It reacts with antisera raised against antigen I, antigen I/II or antigen II as well as with antisera raised against itself, but does not react with antisera raised against antigen III, 4. It is distinct from serotype polysaccharide antigens, glycerol teichoic acid, dextran and similar glucans, and does not synthesise glucans from sucrose, 5. It is substantially of a proteinaceous nature, 6. It absorbs ultra-violet light strongly between 220 and 250 nm (maximum at 230 nm), 7. Its immunogenic activity is destroyed by the enzyme pronase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
Antigen X having the following characteristics: 1. It has a molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE in the range of 3,800-4,500 daltons, 2. It is immunogenic in experimental animals, forming precipitating antibodies, 3. It reacts with antisera raised against antigen I, antigen I/II or antigen II as well as with antisera raised against itself, but does not react with antisera raised against antigen III, 4. It is distinct from serotype polysaccharide antigens, glycerol teichoic acid, dextran and similar glucans, and does not synthesise glucans from sucrose, 5. It is substantially of a proteinaceous nature, 6. It absorbs ultra-violet light strongly between 220 and 250 nm (maximum at 230 nm), 7. Its immunogenic activity is destroyed by the enzyme pronase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Antigen X according to claim 1 substantially free from antigenic materials having a molecular weight, determined by SDS-PAGE, less than 3800 daltons or greater than 4500 daltons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
Antigen X according to claim 1 substantially free from antigen I/II.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Antigen X according to any one of the preceding claims obtained from the culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An anti-caries preparation comprising antigen X according to any one of the preceding claims together with a solid or liquid carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A preparation according to claim 5 in a form suitable for parenteral or topical administration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An antibody against antigen I/II that has been raised in a host that has been injected with antigen X according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
7 words
A monoclonal antibody according to claim 7.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An anti-caries preparation comprising an antibody according to claim 7 or 8 together with a solid or liquid carrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process for the production of antigen X as defined in claim 1 comprising subjecting antigen I/II obtained from culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans in an excess quantity to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a urea containing gel, and isolating from the gel a fraction having a molecular weight in the range 3800-4500 daltons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process for the production of antigen X as defined in claim 1 comprising heating antigen I/II obtained from culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans, subjecting the heated material to gel filtration and isolating from the gel a fraction having a molecular weight in the range 3800-4500 daltons.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the 3800-4500 daltons molecular weight fraction is subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a gel containing 15% w/w polyacrylamide and also containing urea and isolating a fraction of molecular weight 3800 daltons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for the production of antigen X as defined in claim 1 comprising subjecting antigen I/II obtained from culture supernatant of streptococcus mutans to treatment with a bacterial protease, subjecting the resulting mixture to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a urea containing gel and isolating a fraction of molecular weight 3800-4500.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An antigen according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or a preparation according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 9 for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for the prophylactic treatment of a human or animal host to protect the host against dental caries which comprises administering to the host a preparation according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 9.