Abstract
Macrophage (M phi) chemiluminescence (CL) induced by interaction with the two types of colonial variants of Mycobacterium intracellulare was studied. A smooth, opaque and dome-shaped (SmD) colonial variant triggered more intense M phi CL than did a smooth, transparent and flat colonial variant (SmT). M phi CL-inducing activity of the SmD variant was reduced by heating or by treatments with either Pronase P, some endoglycosidases or Tween 80, thereby indicating that the SmD variant possesses M phi CL-inducing substance(s) having peptide, sugar and/or lipid-like moieties. Treatment of the SmD variant organism with some endoglycosidases, such as cellulase, pectinase, dextranase or alpha-amylase decreased its M phi CL-inducing ability. On the other hand, M phi CL-inducing activity of the SmT variant was not affected by any of above treatments except that it was slightly increased by Pronase P treatment and reduced by alpha-amylase and dextranase.

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