THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE AGAINST FRANCISELLA-TULARENSIS LIVE VACCINE STRAIN IN LPS(N) AND LPS(D) MICE

The impact of Lps gene on the course of immune response against subcut aneous infection of mice with Francisella tularensis live vaccine stra in was studied. Production and specificity of antibodies, cytotoxic re sponses of macrophages and NK-cells, spontaneous production ex vivo of cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alp ha in spleen cell cultures in C3H/HeJ (Lps(d)) mice in comparison with C3H/HeN (Lps(n)) mice were tested. The value of LD(50) was significan tly different in the two strains of mice (8.0 x 10(3) cfu for C3H/HeJ versus 4.61 x 10(-5) cfu for C3H/HeN mice after subcutaneous inoculati on). The production of NO2 is also Impaired in C3H/HeJ mice in the ear ly intervals after infection. Thus, the defective Lps gene of C3H/HeJ mice influences both the level of innate resistance of mice to F. tula rensis live vaccine strain infection and the process of induction and regulation of immune response against this intracellular bacterial pat hogen.