[The role of the protein with molecular weight of 22 kD in the phagocytosis of vaccine strain of Yersinia pestis EV].

The comparative study of different stages of the phagocytosis of vaccine strain Y. pestis EV and its achromogenic variants (AV), has been carried out with the use of peritoneal macrophages as an in vitro experimental model. As revealed in this study, AV whose outer membrane contains no protein with a molecular weight of 22 kD exhibit lower capacity for adherence and for being ingested by phagocytes than the initial strain. The absence of this protein does not inhibit the multiplication of AV inside phagocytes, leading to incomplete phagocytosis, which is characteristic of the initial strain. The suggestion is made that the 22 kD protein may be one of the adhesion factors, necessary for ensuring the initial stages of phagocytosis.