SIGNIFICANCE OF RESPONSE OF MICE TO IMMUNIZATION WITH VIABLE UNCLASSIFIED MYCOBACTERIA

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Abstract
Mice of the CF1 strain were vaccinated.with representative cultures of unclassified mycobacteria of Groups I, II, HI, and IV. A high degree of immunity to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis developed only in those animals vaccinated with Group I (M. kansasii) and Group III (Battey) strains. In view of these results and of the apparent widespread occurrence of inapparent infection in human beings with these unclassified mycobacteria, it has been suggested that a large human population may exist in the United States nonspecifically naturally immunized against infection with M. tuberculosis. The suggestion also has been made that this situation may have played a large role in the rapid decline in tuberculosis morbidity in this country.