Antigens of Bordetella pertussis.III. The Protective Antigen

Abstract

A method of preparing extracts from B. pertussis with high protective and histamine sensitizing activity is described. From these extracts, starch block electrophoresis yielded active purified fractions which not only protected mice against intracerebral challenge with living B. pertussis cells but also sensitized mice to histamine. From electrophoretic properties and agar diffusion studies, it is tentatively concluded that the mouse protective antigen from B. pertussis is similar, and perhaps identical to the histamine sensitizing substance. The purified preparations contained mainly one antigenic component. The starting material contained at least 12 antigenic substances, as demonstrated by gel diffusion.