Antibody to a 145-kilodalton outer membrane protein has bactericidal activity and protective activity against experimental bacteremia caused by a Brazilian purpuric fever isolate of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. The Brazilian Purpuric Fever Study Group.
The immunologic basis for protection against Brazilian purpuric fever, a septicemic infection associated with Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius bacteremia, is unknown. Passive immunization of infant rats with antiserum to whole bacterial cells of the homologous strain protects them from experimental bacteremia following bacterial challenge. In immunoblotting, antibody to a 145-kDa protein (P145) was present in protective antisera but not in nonprotective antisera. As judged by analysis of the antibodies eluted from whole bacterial cells and the agglutination of bacteria by antisera to P145, this protein is surface exposed. We prepared monospecific rat antisera to this protein by three methods: (i) immunization with whole bacterial cells and absorption with a Brazilian purpuric fever strain not expressing P145, (ii) immunization with gel-purified P145, and (iii) immunization with a P145-expressing transformant of a laboratory H. influenzae strain expressing this protein and absorption of the antiserum with the laboratory H. influenzae strain. These antisera had low antilipooligosaccharide antibody titers, were reactive only with P145, and had bactericidal activity in vitro. Following passive immunization, these antisera partially protected infant rats from bacteremia resulting from intraperitoneal challenge with bacteria. As assessed by immunoblotting, pooled adult human sera contained antibodies reactive with P145. Antibody to P145 may contribute to protection against Brazilian purpuric fever.