[Experimental study of the dynamics of the formation of protective antibodies to the antigens of the slime of Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

Extracellular slime has been isolated, and partially purified, from P. aeruginosa 170006 (O3a, 3d, 3e: H1), a museum typing strain. The isolated strain has been used as immunogen. Extracellular slime has been found to stimulate the formation of circulating antibodies in rabbits, detected in the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test and in the passive mouse protection test. The subcutaneous immunization of rabbits with a large nontoxic dose of the antigen in Freund's adjuvant and the subsequent intravenous immunization with two large doses of the slime stimulate the intensive synthesis of protective antibodies and antibodies detected in the PHA test. The subcutaneous immunization of rabbits with small doses of the antigen in Freund's adjuvant and the subsequent intravenous injections of the slime also stimulate the synthesis of protective antibodies, but the level of antibodies detected in the PHA test remains low. Rabbit antiserum to P. aeruginosa 170006 slime antigens protects mice also from the intraperitoneal infection with the heterologous strain P. aeruginosa 170015 (O7a, 7b: H2a, 2c).