Журнал биотерроризма и биозащиты

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Efficacy of the new Yersinia pestis subunit vaccine in animal models of plague

Kei Amemiya

Until recently, the vaccine against Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of plague, consisted of a formalin-inactivated,
whole-cell vaccine. The vaccine was discontinued because it apparently only protected the vaccinated host against
bubonic plague but not pneumonic plague. We have since found that the whole-cell vaccine only induced antibodies
against the capsule F1 protein but not antibodies against the virulence protein (V-antigen) that appears to be required
for a robust protection. The new plague vaccine consists of subunits of the F1 capsule protein and V-antigen either as
individual subunits or a fusion of the two subunits. The genes for each these proteins are encoded on two separate
virulence plasmids; one of the plasmids is specific for Y. pestis.