INFLUENCE OF KILLED BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS CELLS ON RESISTANCE AGAINST INFECTION WITH LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 240  (2) , 208-214
Abstract
The influence of killed B. pertussis cells (B.p.) on the cell-mediated resistance of mice against infection with virulent L. monocytogenes was studied. Resistance of mice was decreased when 3 .times. 109 B.p. were injected 1 day before, simultaneously with or 1 day after infection, resulting in augmented amounts of viable Listera recovered from the spleens 3 days after infection. The LD50 was strongly reduced. Transfer of immune spleen cells to recipient mice which were treated 1 day previously with 3 .times. 109 B.p. did not support resistance definitely. The macrophage system was probably impaired just after B.p. injection. However, when B.p. were given several days before infection, resistance was increased. A maximum of resistance enhancement was seen 7-14 days after B.p. treatment. Thereafter, this beneficial effect gradually decreased but persisted for at least 67 days. This resistance enhancing effect of B.p. was surely not due to an adjuvant effect of B.p. on the T[thymus-derived]-lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction to Listeria, since in B.p.-pretreated mice the development of immunity during the primary infection to a secondary listeric infection was even lacking. It is more likely that the macrophage system was stimulated by B.p. In mice treated 7 days prior to infection the elimination of Listeria from the spleens was supported from the very beginning of the infection.

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