Ribosomal vaccines: preparation of subcellular fractions.

Methods for isolation and analysis of subcellular bacterial fractions intended to be used in the preparation of ribosomal vaccines are described. Cultivation conditions in fermentors for obtaining maximal growth curve slopes are studied; cultivation is stopped before the end of the exponential growth phase in order to collect biomasses having a high viability rate, which is essential for the quality of the subcellular fractions isolated thereafter. Extraction methods for ribosomes and ribosomal RNA, as well as two proceedings for preparing adjuvant proteoglycans from Klebsiella pneumoniae membranes, are described. The analytical methods used for the control of these preparations and the results obtained for the various fractions are given.