Immunogenic activity of a ribosomal fraction obtained from Pasteurella multocida

The cells of P. multocida strain P-1059 were destroyed with the French pressure cell; the ribosomal fraction proven to be homogeneous by analytical ultracentrifugation was obtained from the product by centrifugal fractionation, zonal electrophoresis, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The ribosomal fraction exhibited intense protective antigenicity in mice and chickens, but the lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) and the other bacterial cell fraction obtained in this experiment did not. Sodium deoxycholate treatment of the ribosomal fraction resulted in only a 13% loss in immunological activity, and ribonuclease treatment caused a 60% loss of activity.