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With the use of the unified indirect solid-phase fluorescent enzyme immunoassay the combined evaluation of the antigenic and immunogenic properties of experimental whole-virion inactivated virus vaccines against Venezuelan and eastern equine encephalomyelitides, as well as of dried chemical typhus vaccine, has been made; their safety was determined indirectly by the content of ovalbumin. The protective role of antibodies evaluated by the solid-phase fluorescent enzyme immunoassay in typhus immunity has been shown.

The data of the comparative study of the immunomodulating action of donor interferon and reaferon in experiments with typhus vaccine, used as an experimental model, on monkeys of different species and guinea pigs are presented. One of the main properties of interferons, besides their antiviral activity, is their capacity for producing an immunomodulating effect.

The blood sera of persons immunized with different typhus vaccines have been studied in the complement fixation test, the indirect hemagglutination test and the enzyme immunoassay. The data thus obtained indicate that the enzyme immunoassay is highly sensitive and can be universally used for the determination of antibodies to Rickettsia prowazekii after primary and booster immunization with different typhus vaccines. This method detects specific antibodies both at an early period and, which is of particular importance, at a remote period after immunization (3 years later) when complement-binding and hemagglutinating antibodies are absent. This is seemingly indicative of the two-phase character of postvaccinal immunity induced by live typhus vaccine.

The acceleration of antibody formation in animals immunized with chemical typhus vaccine has been shown to occur under the influence of interferonogens (poly I--poly C, tyloron) and leukocytic interferon in experiments on guinea pigs and monkeys.

The instability of R. prowazekii strain E cultivated in chick embryos has been demonstrated. The complex of tests permitting determination of differences between various sublines of this strain in their immunogenic potency and residual virulence has been proposed.

Electroacupuncture diagnosis was used to demonstrate the reaction of biologically active points of the skin (BAPS) to immunization with typhus vaccine. In 7 persons immunized with chemical and live (strain E) typhus vaccines, the reaction differed significantly from the initial parameters and other measurement data obtained in a group of unvaccinated subjects. The reaction of the BAPS was noticeable starting from the first day after vaccination and was far ahead of seroimmune shifts detectable in the host. The best correlation was established between the seroimmune response and the activity of the acupuncture points on meridians X and I (a positive correlation) and on meridians III, VIII and XI (a negative correlation).

The results obtained in the study of the immunobiological properties of R. prowazekii soluble antigen purified without the use of ether are presented. The effectiveness of this antigen has been shown to be not inferior to that of preparations obtained by ether purification. It is expedient to introduce the antigen in the adsorbed form in two injections at an interval of 10--14 days, as immunization in two injections produces phase changes in the immune responsiveness of animals.