Separation of contaminants from

1. A process of reducing the protein content and preserving the capsular polysaccharide content in a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) growing bacterial cells of a selected S. pneumoniae serotype in a soy-based medium, which includes:

(i) inoculating a first container containing the soy-based medium with seed stock of the selected serotype, and incubating the first container until growth requirements are met,

(ii) inoculating a second container containing the soy-based medium with the culture from step (i) while maintaining a stable pH and temperature in the second container, and

(b) lysing with a detergent the bacterial cells produced in step (a), thereby producing a cellular lysate containing soluble proteins, cell debris, nucleic acids and polysaccharide;

(c) agitating the cellular lysate for a time sufficient to assure complete lysis and capsular polysaccharide release;

(d) lowering the pH of the cellular lysate to between 4.5 and less than 5.5 to precipitate out the detergent and most of the soluble proteins, thereby producing a solution and a precipitate;

(e) holding the solution and the precipitate formed in step (d) without agitation for a time sufficient to allow settling of the precipitate; and

(f) processing the solution and the precipitate by centrifugation and/or filtration, whereby the capsular polysaccharide is preserved and the soluble protein is effectively reduced.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the selected S. pneumoniae serotype is 1,4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F or 19A.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the detergent is deoxycholate sodium.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pH in step (a) is maintained by a base feed of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or a combination thereof.

5. A process of reducing the protein content and preserving the capsular polysaccharide content in a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) expanding in increasing volumes from a staffing container to a production scale container in a soy-based medium bacterial cells of a selected S. pneumoniae serotype and maintaining a stable pH and temperature during cellular growth;

(b) lysing with a detergent the bacterial cells produced in step (a), thereby producing a cellular lysate containing soluble proteins, cell debris, nucleic acids and polysaccharide;

(c) agitating the cellular lysate for a time sufficient to assure complete lysis and capsular polysaccharide release;

(d) lowering the pH of the cellular lysate to between 4.5 and less than 5.5 to precipitate out the detergent and most of the soluble proteins, thereby producing a solution and a precipitate;

(e) holding the solution and the precipitate formed in step (d) without agitation for a time sufficient to allow settling of the precipitate; and

(f) processing the solution and the precipitate by centrifugation and/or filtration, whereby the capsular polysaccharide is preserved and the soluble protein is effectively reduced.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the selected S. pneumoniae serotype is 1, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F or 19A.

7. The process of claim 5 , wherein the detergent is deoxycholate sodium.

8. The process of claim 5 , wherein the pH in step (a) is maintained by a base feed of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or a combination thereof.

9. A process of reducing the protein content and preserving the capsular polysaccharide content in a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) expanding in increasing volumes from a staffing container to a production scale container in a soy-based medium bacterial cells of a selected S. pneumoniae serotype selected from the group consisting of serotypes 1, 4, 6A, 6B and 7F, and maintaining a stable pH and temperature during cellular growth, the pH being maintained with sodium hydroxide;

(b) lysing with a detergent the bacterial cells produced in step (a), thereby producing a cellular lysate containing soluble proteins, cell debris, nucleic acids and polysaccharide;

(c) agitating the cellular lysate for a time sufficient to assure complete lysis and capsular polysaccharide release;

(d) lowering the pH of the cellular lysate to between 4.5 and less than 5.5 to precipitate out the detergent and most of the soluble proteins, thereby producing a solution and a precipitate;

(e) holding the solution and the precipitate formed in step (d) without agitation for a time sufficient to allow settling of the precipitate; and

(f) processing the solution and the precipitate by centrifugation and/or filtration, whereby the capsular polysaccharide is preserved and the soluble protein is effectively reduced.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the detergent is deoxycholate sodium.

11. A process of reducing the protein content and preserving the capsular polysaccharide content in a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) expanding in increasing volumes bacterial cells of S. pneumoniae serotype 5, from a starting container to a production scale container in a soy-based medium supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, and maintaining a stable pH and temperature during cellular growth, the pH being maintained with sodium hydroxide;

(b) lysing with a detergent the bacterial cells produced in step (a), thereby producing a cellular lysate containing soluble proteins, cell debris, nucleic acids and polysaccharide;

(c) agitating the cellular lysate for a time sufficient to assure complete lysis and capsular polysaccharide release;

(d) lowering the pH of the cellular lysate to between 4.5 and less than 5.5 to precipitate out the detergent and most of the soluble proteins, thereby producing a solution and a precipitate;

(e) holding the solution and the precipitate formed in step (d) without agitation for a time sufficient to allow settling of the precipitate; and

(f) processing the solution and the precipitate by centrifugation and/or filtration, whereby the capsular polysaccharide is preserved and the soluble protein is effectively reduced.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the detergent is deoxycholate sodium.

13. A process of reducing the protein content and preserving the capsular polysaccharide content in a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) expanding in increasing volumes bacterial cells of S. pneumoniae serotype 19A, from a starting container to a production scale container in a soy-based medium supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, and maintaining a stable pH and temperature during cellular growth, the pH being maintained with sodium carbonate;

(b) lysing with a detergent the bacterial cells produced in step (a), thereby producing a cellular lysate containing soluble proteins, cell debris, nucleic acids and polysaccharide;

(c) agitating the cellular lysate for a time sufficient to assure complete lysis and capsular polysaccharide release;

(d) lowering the pH of the cellular lysate to between 4.5 and less than 5.5 to precipitate out the detergent and most of the soluble proteins, thereby producing a solution and a precipitate;

(e) holding the solution and the precipitate formed in step (d) without agitation for a time sufficient to allow settling of the precipitate; and

(f) processing the solution and the precipitate by centrifugation and/or filtration, whereby the capsular polysaccharide is preserved and the soluble protein is effectively reduced.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the detergent is deoxycholate sodium.