[Protection against infection with Bordetella pertussis by an oligopeptide from Bordetella pertussis (author's...

We have isolated from Bordetella pertussis an oligopeptide with characteristic amino acid composition. This peptide was applied to mice in standardized tests for pertussis immunization. In three tests with three independent isolates of peptide, a significant and dose dependent protection was observed. One microgram of peptide per mouse produces the same protective effect as 0.1 IU of pertussis vaccine. It is important to note that similar peptides can be isolated from other bacteria and other DNA containing cellular organisms which have specific amino acid compositions and which are antigens specific for the organism from which they were isolated. The antigens are very potent, e.g., one ng of Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptide is equivalent to one unit of tuberculin. It is conceivable that immunizing effects such as those observed for pertussis are common to the peptides of this group. Since all such peptides are isolated from a group of low molecular weight ribonucleoproteins, as first reported by WILHELM, we propose the term nucleopeptides for this group. Oligopeptides of the nucleopeptide group are now available for sequence analysis. We expect that synthetic peptides of this group will become available in time for diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of a number of diseases.