RELATIVE IMMUNOGENICITY AND EFFICACY OF 2 SYNTHETIC CHIMERIC PEPTIDESOF FIMBRIN AS VACCINOGENS AGAINST NASOPHARYNGEAL COLONIZATION BY NONTYPABLE HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE IN THE CHINCHILLA

The OMP P5-homologous fimbriae of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae ( NTHi) are an adhesin and a virulence factor for otitis media in chinch illa models. We synthesized two peptides (LB1 and LB2) which incorpora te determinants of the fimbrial subunit co-linearly synthesized with a ''promiscuous'' T-cell epitope from the fusion protein of measles vir us. Sera obtained from immunized rabbits and chinchillas demonstrated significant reciprocal titers against both the homologous peptide and isolated fimbrial protein. Antisera also immunolabeled native fimbriae of whole unfixed NTHi. Immunization with LB1 or fimbrin resulted in e limination of NTHi from the chinchilla nasopharynx 2-3 weeks earlier t han controls, respectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.