Lymphocyte proliferation in response to immunodominant antigens of Brucella abortus 2308 and RB51 in strain 2308-infected cattle.

Lymphocyte proliferation in response to proteins from the Brucella abortus strain 2308 (S2308) and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen-deficient mutant of S2308, strain RB51 (SRB51), was measured in S2308-infected cattle following abortion. Supramammary and superficial cervical lymph node lymphocytes from infected cattle proliferated most when incubated with 27- to 18-kDa proteins of S2308 or SRB51. Proteins of SRB51, which contained no LPS O antigens, induced lymphocyte proliferation similar to that induced by S2308 proteins, which contained LPS O antigens. These results indicate that 27- to 18-kDa proteins, but not LPS O antigens, of S2308 and SRB51 are immunodominant in S2308-infected cattle as assessed by lymphocyte proliferation assays.