[Isolation and study of the properties of the Meningococcus allergen].

Meningococcus allergen was obtained from meningococcus cultures grown on serum-free media by the method of alkaline extraction and subsequent acid precipitation. In intradermal injection to guinea pigs this allergen indicated a specific sensitization with menigococci in 80% of cases. In the nonsensitized animals and also in guinea pigs sensitized with N. catarrhalis and N. gonorrhoeae positive skin reactions were seen in 7.6% of cases only. In detection of meningococcus sensitization there was found no relationship to their group specificity. The preparation was harmless in diagnostic dose, produced no sensitizing action, by chemical nature served as a glyconucleoproteid devoid of lipid, possessed molecular and electrophoretic heterogeneity. The allergen contained precipitating antigens not associated with its capacity to detect the state of sensitization in intradermal injection.