Studies on the Antigens of Pasteurella Pestis and Pasteurella Pseudotuberculosis

Summary Using a gel diffusion technique with absorbed antisera, 18 different antigens of Pasteurella pestis and Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis have been observed. Five of these were specific for P. pestis, two were specific for P. pseudotuberculosis and the remainder were produced by both organisms. When sera obtained from guinea pigs immunized with four different vaccines were analyzed a promising correlation was observed between the presence of a specific circulating antibody, anti-L, and immunity to pneumonic plague. However, purification of L antigen and subsequent injection of the purified material into guinea pigs induced the formation of L antibodies but did not protect the animals against pneumonic plague.