ABSTRACT
Five strains of Rickettsia prowazekii different in origin, biological and genetic properties were compared in protein and LPS patterns by the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in antigenic properties by immunoblotting with specific sera of infected white mice. Three virulent strains Breinl, G and Katsinjan had identical protein patterns and differed from isogenic pair of strains E and EVir in the electrophoretic properties of 29-30 kDa proteins. Silver-strained LPS patterns were different in five compared strains. Strain G and strain Katsinjan had the longest O-chaines of LPS. Polyclonal mouse antisera contained specific antibodies which mainly directed against LPS and 25-60 kDa proteins. Strains E and EVir were identical in all performed immunoblotting reactions and separated from three virulent strains. Out of virulent strains, whole cell antigen of strain Katsinjan and LPS antigen of strain G had different reactions in comparison with correspondent antigen of the standard strain Breinl.
