Merck + Co., Inc.

Yashwant D Karkhanis

Dennis J Carlo

Guadalupe A Limjuco

There is disclosed an improved process for the isolation of K-99 outer membrane protein pili from Escherichia coli cells. The improved process involves a heat shock treatment of the E. coli cells in a buffered solution to afford a release of the K-99 pili into solution which on standing results in the aggregation and precipitation of the pili. The thus isolated K-99 protein pili is useful in the preparation of vaccines.

Heat shock process for the isolation of bacterial protein

Gonococcal antigens are solubilized by a process involving trypsin-digestion.

Process for solubilization of gonococcal antigen

An antigenic, immunogenic, non-toxic complex is obtained from the cell surface of N. gonorrhoeae.

Antigenic complex from N. gonorrhoeae

A vaccine against E. coli caused diarrhea is prepared from an isolate of the homogeneous heat-labile enterotoxin of human strain MB3353 of Escherichia coli, ATCC 31361, or of the porcine strain MB3708, ATCC 31362. The toxin, which is a protein, is a low molecular weight species of 10,000-13,000.

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Fanwood, NJ, United States of America

Yashwant D Karkhanis