BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY OF BACTERIAL SURFACE COMPONENTS - BACTERIAL EXTRACTS AND DEFINED BACTERIAL-CELL WALL COMPONENTS AS IMMUNOMODULATORS

Bacterial extracts obtained from pathogenic strains occurring in lung infections (Broncho Vaxom) or urogenital infections (Urovaxom) as well as defined surface components of Gram-negative bacteria purified from bacteria or obtained by chemical synthesis were tested for their immunomodulatory properties in a murine system. The bacterial extracts were able to act as immunogens inducing an antigen-specific response. Both the bacterial extracts and the purified bacterial cell wall components constituted polyclonal activators of murine splenic B cells, as demonstrated by proliferation assays measuring the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. They were also able to act as immunoadjuvants increasing the SRBC and the BSA-TNP specific immune response, and could induce tumor cytotoxicity in bone marrow-derived macrophages. The results show that bacterial extracts and defined bacterial surface components constitute immunogens as well as immunomodulators in vitro and in vivo. © 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.