Prevention of experimental pseudotuberculosis infection by immunization with porin fromYersinia pseudotuberculosis

Abstract

Protective properties of two molecular forms of porin, a protein from the outer membrane of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, are studied in animals infected with pseudotuberculosis and plague agents. The effect of adjuvant on the protective activity of porin is investigated. The possibility of using porin as a component of chemical antipseudotuberculosis vaccine is demonstrated. Key Words: porin; protective activity; pseudotuberculosisThe outer membrane of gram-negative pathogens plays an important role in the parasite-host relationships. Membrane components participate in adhesion and invasion of bacterial cells, protection from humoral and cellular defense of the host, and exert toxic effect [8,9].Recent studies demonstrated protective properties of the outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria associated with peptidoglycan (PG). Porins as immunogenic components of chemical vaccines are used for preventing infectious diseases caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Shigella. Porin-based vaccines possess numerous advantages over vaccines containing other cellular immunogens. The immune response to lipopolysaccharide, flagella, and other surface components of the outer bacterial membrane is type-or strainspecific, while porins induce the production of speciesspecific antibodies. Moreover, these proteins are nontoxic and therefore preferable for vaccinations [9,10].