title: Mouse-protecting and histamine-sensitizing activities of pertussigen and fimbrial hemagglutinin from Bordetella pertussis.
abstract: We compared the protective activities of fimbrial hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertussigen and their respective antibodies in mice infected intracerebrally with Bordetella pertussis. We found that mice were protected by a 1.7-microgram/mouse dose of pertussigen which was free of detectable FHA and was detoxified by treatment with glutaraldehyde. A pertussigen preparation made from cells grown in shake cultures that did not contain demonstrable FHA protected mice at a dose of 1.4 microgram/mouse. FHA at a dose of 10 microgram/mouse protected mice from intracerebral infection, but it also sensitized mice to histamine at a dose of 2 micrograms/mouse, which indicated that it was contaminated with pertussigen. When FHA was obtained free of demonstrable pertussigen, it failed to sensitize mice to histamine at a dose of 30 micrograms/mouse and to protect mice from infection at a dose of 12 micrograms/mouse (largest doses tested). Passive protection tests with antisera known to contain antibodies to pertussigen protected mice from intracerebral infection, whereas sera lacking anti-pertussigen antibodies but containing high concentrations of anti-FHA antibodies did not protect mice. The most important antigen for the immunization of mice against intracerebral infection with B. pertussis appears to be pertussigen.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000276:immunology; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007110:Immunity, Active; D051379:Mice; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D007106:Immune Sera; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D006632:Histamine; D037342:Pertussis Toxin