A purified killed Brucella abortus vaccine

Abstract

A purified killed vaccine has been developed which could be used to immunize man against brucellosis. The vaccine is prepared by adding sodium dodecyl sulphate to intact cultures of virulent Brucella abortus in a defined medium containing erythritol. Much bacterial debris is removed, then the immunogen is precipitated from the supernatant with ethanol and finally redissolved in a buffer.

The purified whole-culture vaccine immunized mice better than did vaccines from the crude killed organisms, extracted washed organisms or extracted culture supernatant. It was less allergenic in infected guinea-pigs and less toxic to mice than corresponding suspensions of crude killed Br. abortus.