Immunization Effects of klebsiella pneumoniae Surface Antigens on Mice

The effects of immunization of mice with Klebsiella pneumoniae were examined. The protection against Klebsiella pneumoniaeby the immunization with viable cells or dead cells could be replaced by the immunization with LPS, sodium deoxycholate extract of K. pneumoniae or the immunoaffinity-purified antigen (Kp-62 antigen) of K. pneumoniae. The levels of antibody to K. pneumoniae in the serum of mice immunized with K. pneumoniae or its antigens were determined by radioimmunoassay. The antibody titres were always high when the mice showed protection against K. pneumoniae. Among the K. pneumoniae antigents enough to get defense, the immunoaffinity-purified antigen (Kp62 antigen) might be the responsible antigen. This is supported by the observations that the antigen could induce enough immunity to K. pneumoniae infection, and antigents such as LPS or sodium deoxycholate extract which were also effective for immunization cross-reacted withKp-62 monoclonal antibody to K. pneumoniae. A strong antigenic effect of Kp-62 antigen was proved by the histological findings of local lymph nodes, after injection of this antigen to the foot pads of mice.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Monoclonal antibody

Defense antigen

Specific antibody

Mouse