[The glycolipid composition of Francisella tularensis strains with different degrees of attenuation].

The glycolipid composition of F. tularensis strains was investigated by silica gel thin-layer chromatography. Vaccine strains in contrast to virulent ones lacked glycolipid 8, possessed new glycolipid 8-a and a higher level of glycolipid 7. Low immunogenic strains had a decreased content of glycolipids, while avirulent non-immunogenic strain (15-a) nearly completely lost them. Thus, the glycolipid composition is associated with the level of attenuation, virulence and immunogenicity of F. tularensis.