A method is provided for the enhanced elaboration of leukotoxin from F. necrophorum, and subsequent production of an inactivated leukotoxoid ruminant animal vaccine against F. necrophorum infection and consequent liver abscesses and/or foot rot in such animals. The method involves forming a culture of F. necrophorum bacteria in growth media, allowing the bacteria to grow therein and to simultaneously elaborate leukotoxin in a supernate; the culturing is preferably carried out at a temperature of from about 35.degree.-41.degree. C., a pH of from about 6.5-8, and for a period of from about 4-9 hours. At the end of the culturing, bacterial growth and leukotoxin elaboration are terminated, preferably by separating the leukotoxin supernate, whereupon the vaccine is produced by inactivation of at least the supernate.

A method is provided for the enhanced elaboration of leukotoxin from F. necrophorum, and subsequent production of an inactivated leukotoxoid ruminant animal vaccine against F. necrophorum infection and consequent liver abscesses and/or foot rot in such animals. The method involves forming a culture of F. necrophorum bacteria in growth media, allowing the bacteria to grow therein and to simultaneously elaborate leukotoxin in a supernate; the culturing is preferably carried out at a temperature of from about 35.degree.-41.degree. C., a pH of from about 6.5-8, and for a period of from about 4-9 hours. At the end oil of the culturing, bacterial growth and leukotoxin elaboration are terminated, preferably by separating the leukotoxin supernate, whereupon the vaccine is produced by inactivation of at least the supernate.

This invention relates to the diagnosis and prevention of ungulate diseases caused by the spirochete bacteria Treponema. The invention specifically relates to isolated cultures of this spirochete and isolated nucleic acids and proteins.

A melanoma inhibiting activity factor (MIA), preferably in combination with an osteoinductive protein, is a useful pharmaceutical agent for promoting bone healing and/or cartilage repair.

Novel inocula for administration to ruminant animals such as cattle or sheep are provided in order to immunize the animals and lessen the incidence of liver abscesses and/or foot rot therein. In one aspect, the invention pertains to an A. pyogenes-derived vaccine including an inactivated cell culture product (e.g., cell-elaborated supernatant) from A. pyogenes cell culture in a suitable carrier. In another aspect, the invention relates to a multivalent vaccine including at least first and second bacterial components in a carrier; the first component comprises an inactivated cell culture product of A. pyogenes whereas the second component comprises an inactivated cell culture product of F. necrophorum. The inocula of the present invention find particular utility in incidences where ruminant animals are particularly subject to A. pyogenes infection leading to liver abscesses and/or foot rot, e.g., where the animals are regularly treated with an antibiotic or where cattle are fed a high grain content concentrate diet.