OUTER MEMBRANES OF A LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-PROTEIN COMPLEX (LPS-17 KDA PROTEIN) AS CHEMICAL TULAREMIA VACCINES

Immunisation with outer membranes of Francisella tularensis induced an efficient protection in guinea pigs against challenge with the virule nt strains 503 or 144/713 (type B biovar holarctica), both clinical is olates, and prevented the development of typical signs of infection in hamadryads (baboons), challenged with the virulent strain Schu (type A, biovar tularensis) of F. tularensis. Immunisation with a lipopolysa ccharide protein complex isolated from the outer membranes afforded pr otection in CBA mice against challenge with strain 503,Another LPS-pro tein complex obtained by the simple mixture of LPS preparations from s train 503 and a 17-kDa membrane protein from the avirulent R-variant o f the vaccine strain 15 also demonstrated protective properties agains t experimental tularemia in mice.