[Humoral immune response in animals after the oral administration of group C meningococcal whole-culture preparation].

Experimental data giving grounds for the development of a new group C meningococcal whole-culture preparation for oral administration are presented. The study revealed that the use of the controlled cultivation of group C meningococci and a nutrient medium with definite chemical composition in combination with the "soft" method of the isolation of the whole-culture preparation ensured the preservation of polysaccharide, outer membrane protein and lipooligosaccharide in a native state, as well as retaining their full antigenic value, in the preparation. The oral immunization with the whole-culture preparation stimulated the multiple elevation of the level of hemagglutinating and IgG antibodies to these antigens and their prolonged preservation in the blood of immunized animals.