Microbial vaccines and toxoids (ex. DTaP)

Microbial vaccines are most frequently comprised of the cell wall components that allow the immune system to recognize the whole organism, or in bacteria that cause disease through toxicity – such as Diphtheria, the toxin or derived toxoid may be used. Antitoxins are being developed for some disease organisms, predominantly for therapeutic use.
Bacteria may be cultured in liquid media, or as solid substrate cultures, harvested, purified and used directly as killed or attenuated vaccines.