Abstract
Arthrigenicity of Mycobacterium smegmatis subfractions appeared to be remarkably potentiated in oil vehicles such as squalane or mineral oil, while water-in-oil emulsions containing Arlacel A appeared to decrease or suppress their arthritogenicity. It seems that Arlacel A can exert a suppressive effect on the arthritogenicity of the subfractions. Poly I:C and acetylated wax D potentiated the arthritogenicity of lysozyme-solubilized product, while cord factor was unable to do so. When given together with either cell membrane fraction or cell envelope, the lysozyme-solubilized product produced much more severe disease than that of lysozyme-solubilized product alone. Cell walls lost much of their arthritogenicity when mixed with lysozyme-solubilized product.