Protective and other biological properties of Bacillus anthracis soluble antigens |
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Authors: | V A Abalakin T D Cherkasova L V Sergeeva B L Cherkassky |
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Institution: | Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the USSR, Ministry of Health, Moscow. |
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Abstract: | The soluble antigens were explored of the culture filtrate (CF) derived during static growth of B. anthracis vaccine strain 34F2 on a medium containing casein hydrolysate. Electrofocusing of CF preparations revealed that the protective activity was distributed over a wide range of pH 3-7. The most pronounced and stable protective activity was observed at pH 4.6-4.8. Following toxin factors were isolated and identified: protective antigen (87 kD), oedema factor (87 kD) and lethal factor (78-81 kD). The greatest protective activity was associated with antigens characterized by a molecular weight of 78-87 kD and toxic activity. Preparations of the oedema and lethal factors had the same protective activity as protective antigen (PA) preparations. Other CF soluble antigens protected about 30% of immunized guinea pigs. A protein was isolated with a molecular weight of 80 kD and isoelectric point at pH 5.3-5.7 which was not toxic and did not form toxic mixtures in association with other toxin factors; this protein featured a high immunogenic activity, however, it protected only 31% of immunized animals. Factors are analyzed which determine differences in the protective effects of live and chemical vaccines. |
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