Stimulation of Nonspecific Resistance to Infection by a Crude Cell Wall Preparation from Mycobacterium phlei

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Abstract
Exposure of large quantities of viable Mycobacterium phlei to attrition in a colloid mill resulted in 90 to 95% disruption of the organisms. Isolation of the crude cell wall preparation was accomplished by centrifugation of the broken cells at 10, 000 x g, resuspension of the sediment, and repeated centrifugation at 1, 000 x g to remove intact cells. Single oral or parenteral doses of the cell wall preparation increased the resistance of mice and guinea pigs to experimental infection with Salmonella enteritidis, and of mice to Staphylococcus aureus, for prolonged periods after administration. Histological examination of the organs of mice treated orally or ip revealed a lymphoid hyperplasia of the spleen and a Kupffer cell proliferation of the liver. The preparation was non-toxic to mice by the oral route at doses up to 5, 000 mg/kg, and the ip LD50 was approximately 680 mg/kg.