M. Fulop et al., ROLE OF LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE AND A MAJOR OUTER-MEMBRANE PROTEIN FROM FRANCISELLA-TULARENSIS IN THE INDUCTION OF IMMUNITY AGAINST TULAREMIA, Vaccine, 13(13), 1995, pp. 1220-1225
A crude outer membrane preparation from Francisella tularensis Live Va
ccine Strain (LVS) was toed to immunize mice. Immunized mice were comp
letely protected from a F, tularensis challenge. We evaluated the role
of two major outer membrane antigens in the induction of protective i
mmunity, namely lipopolysaccharide and an outer membrane protein FopA,
We presented FopA to the immune system using an aromatic amino acid-d
ependent Salmonella typhimurium as a vector. Although mice mounted an
immune response to cloned FopA no significant protection was induced.
However, LPS immunized mice were completely protected We conclude that
LPS is a major protective antigen whereas FopA has a limited or no ro
le in the induction of protective immunity.