Potential use of shared antigens for immunization against gram-negative bacillary infections

The demonstration of common antigens shared by all Enterobacteriaceae has led to evaluation of the effects of immunization of animals and man with these antigens in protecting against bacterial infections and challenge with LPS. Both active and passive immunization with the Re mutant of S. minnesota and the J5 mutant of E. coli afforded significant protection to mice and rabbits against lethal challenge with viable bacteria and heterologous LPS. KDO appears to be the antigenic determinant responsible for induction of protective antibody after immunization with the Re mutant but the antigenic determinant of the J5 mutant has yet to be identified. Studies in volunteers indicate that human immunization with R mutants can be accomplished without excess adverse reactions and that such immunization may protect against Gram-negative bacillary infections.