Mechanism of immunity to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Buchanan, 1911) in mice using inactivated vaccine

Abstract

Mice can be passively protected against infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis with hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared against whole bacterial cells. The mechanism of immunity depends on the inhibition of secondary multiplication of the bacteria, not on antitoxic activity or enhanced phagocytosis and destruction. Passive transfer of macrophages obtained from mice immunized with inactivated vaccine to susceptible mice which were subsequently challenged showed that the macrophages have no specific immunizing properties.