Immunization with major outer membrane proteins in experimental salmonellosis of mice.

Porin (outer membrane protein) preparations extracted from a rough (Rb2) mutant of Salmonella typhimurium proved to be good immunogens in mice and rabbits. The antibody response achieved was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. High titers of both antiporin and antilipopolysaccharide were detected in both species. The rabbit antiserum raised against the porins and the porin preparations themselves had a highly significant protective capacity against intraperitoneal Salmonella infection of mice. Absorption of the rabbit antiporin serum with lipopolysaccharide immunosorbent did not change its protective capacity in a passive immunization experiment, suggesting that the antiporin antibody preparations were the active components.