Pseudomonas ribosomal vaccines: preparation, properties, and immunogenicity.

The preparation, properties, and immunogenicity of ribosomal vaccines from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are described. These preparations, containing protein and RNA, were tested for immunogenicity by active immunization of mice and subsequent challenge with homologous, live bacteria. The results demonstrated that vaccines prepared from a majority of serotypes used were immunogenic, i.e., afforded 60 to 100% mouse protection against a challenge inoculum containing 8 to 50 50% lethal doses. In some cases vaccine doses as low as 1 microgram of RNA provided 100% mouse protection. Molecular sieve chromatography of a highly immunogenic ribosomal preparation on Sepharose 4B demonstrated the presence of two molecular weight fractions: (i) peak A, an excluded peak (thus having a molecular weight of at least 2 times 10(7)), and (ii) peak B, considerably retarded, with an elution position corresponding to a molecular weight of about 2.2 X 10(6), approximating that of typical 70S ribosomes. Both peaks A and B were immunogenic; however, the immunogenicity of peak A was greater (i.e., a smaller immunizing dose was required) than that of peak B. Peak A was shown to contain components of lipopolysaccharide in addition to protein and RNA (which comprised 80% of the dry weight of peak A). On the other hand, peak B was shown to be free of lipopolysaccharide, and 100% of its dry weight consisted of protein and RNA.