[The role of the surface antigens of Pseudomonas pseudomallei in the pathogenesis of melioidosis].

As established with the use of electron-immunochemical techniques, glycoprotein antigen 6 is the outer membrane component of P. pseudomallei cell wall, while glycoprotein antigen 8 is localized on the cell surface as a capsule-like formation. Antigen 6 plays no perceptible role in the realization of the pathogenic properties of the infective agent, but serves as a reliable sign in the differentiation of P. pseudomallei strains into serovars. Subcultures, defective in the synthesis of antigen 8, have sharply reduced virulence for laboratory animals. As revealed in this study, the pathogenetic action of antigen 8 is linked with its pronounced antiphagocytic function. Thus, antigen 8 is considered to be one of the key pathogenicity factors of P. pseudomallei.