THE IMMUNIZING ACTIVITY AGAINST TUBERCULOUS INFECTION IN MICE OF ENZYMATICALLY ACTIVE PARTICLES ISOLATED FROM EXTRACTS OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

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Abstract
Small enzymatically active non-acid fast particles possessing many of the characteristics of mitochondria were isolated by ultracentrifugation from extracts prepared by grinding whole living cells of M. tuberculosis var. hominis strain H37Ra in sucrose phosphate solution. These small enzymatically active particles when injected intraperitoneally into mice stimulated in these animals the production of a degree of immunity which was equal to that produced by a 1.0 mg immunizing dose of whole living H37Ra cells. Two other fractions, a strawcolored supernatant fluid and a "fatty" fraction, were devoid of immunogenic activity. The significance of these findings and their relation to the problem of the nature of acquired immunity to tuberculosis is discussed.