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This paper describes the investigation of incorporation processes of the plague lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into artificial phospholipid vesicles (PLV) on the basis of elastic laser radiation scattering. For this purpose, the angular light scattering dependencies of PLV suspensions, containing various LPS concentrations (0 - 5 mg/ml), were measured using the polarization nephelometer. The design of the polarization nephelometer and the measurement technique are described in detail. Measuring results are compared with electron microscopy data. The most pronounced variation as a result of LPS incorporation into PLV appeared to be the light scattering integral intensity (LSII) at angles exceeding 100. It is shown that the LPS adding into the PLV suspension causes the LSII to increase by a factor 2 - 6 for a LPS concentration range from 0.5 to 5 mg/ml as compared with `empty' PLV. Proceeding from the electron microscopy data it was found that the LSII increase, in general case, is conditioned by variation of the PLV membrane refraction index and formation of PLV aggregates. It was shown that the LSII measurement for the PLV suspension containing LPS can be used as a qualitative express analysis for the LPS incorporation into PLV as well as procedure for determination of the aggregate formation stage from PLV. The LPS of the plague, which as determinants being common for various gram-negative bacteria, is of great interest from the viewpoint of creating preparations for prophylactic measures against the endotoxin infections. However, the LPS toxicity due to the lipid A presence is a disadvantage of this weak antigen. Incorporation of the LPS int bilayer phospholipid membranes leads to its lower toxicity and higher immunization ability. The immunization ability and toxicity of the LPS complexes with bilayer membranes depend essentially on the LPS quantity sorbed in the membrane, as well as on the shapes and sizes of aggregates formed by the LPS and membranes in water environment.
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