title: Characteristics of the protective subcellular coccidioidal T27K vaccine.
abstract: While the whole killed spherule vaccine, protective in mice and monkeys, did not prevent coccidioidal disease in humans, the 27K vaccine, a soluble derivative, retains protective activity in mice with little irritant action. Gel filtration and anion exchange fractions of thimerosal-inactivated spherules (T27K), when administered with alum adjuvant, also protect mice against lethal respiratory coccidioidal challenge. However, the superb protection afforded by T27K antigens is maintained for some 3 months, but may then diminish. This appears unrelated to the aging of the mice. Prolongation of the protective action may require addition of a different adjuvant or administration of booster doses of vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. smjohnson@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kerekes
authors.forename: Jennine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pappagianis
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000378:metabolism*; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005657:Fungal Vaccines