Immunity and vaccine development in Pasteurella multocida infections

Abstract

The role of LPS in immunity was studied using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and active immunization experiments. A panel of six MAbs produced against Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2 reacted with the LPS of serotypes B:2 and B:5, but not with other serotypes. The MAbs could opsonize P. multocida for phagocytosis by mouse macrophages, but were not bactericidal in the presence of complement. They conferred only partial passive protection in mice. Similar results showing only partial protection were obtained when purified LPS was used to actively immunize mice prior to challenge, suggesting that LPS plays a partial role in immunity to infection.