H. Pertussis Vaccines: The Effect of Washing and the use of Mouse Protection Tests

Abstract

Washing Hemophilus pertussis Phase I vaccine with either 0.85% NaCl or distilled water removed similar amounts of soluble protein. This protein, in both solvents, was specifically precipitable with H. pertussis antiserum and was antigenic for rabbits. There was no evidence indicating that distilled water denatured the specific protein. Comparative mouse protection tests were done with unwashed Phase I vaccine, with vaccine washed once in 0.85% NaCl, and with vaccine washed once in distilled water. When both vaccinated and control animals were infected intraperit. with a suspension of H. pertussis in 5% hog gastric mucin, definite evidence of protection with all three vaccines was obtained. These observations on washings and on washed vaccines indicate that washing with distilled water has no more effect on H. pertussis Phase I vaccine than does washing with 0.85% NaCl.