Research articleOuter membranes of a lipopolysaccharide-protein complex (LPS-17 kDa protein) as chemical tularemia vaccines

Immunisation with outer membranes of Francisella tularensis induced an efficient protection in guinea pigs against challenge with the virulent strains 503 or 144713 (type B biovar holarctica), both clinical isolates, and prevented the development of typical signs of infection in hamadryads (baboons), challenged with the virulent strain Schu (type A, biovar tularensis) of F. tularensis. Immunisation with a lipopolysaccharide protein complex isolated from the outer membranes afforded protection in CBA mice against challenge with strain 503. Another LPS-protein complex obtained by the simple mixture of LPS preparations from strain 503 and a 17-kDa membrane protein from the avirulent R-variant of the vaccine strain 15 also demonstrated protective properties against experimental tularemia in mice.