EFFECT OF IMMUNOMODULATION WITH GALACTOSIDE-SPECIFIC MISTLETOE LECTINON EXPERIMENTAL LISTERIOSIS

BALB/c-mice (n = 10 per experimental group) were intravenously infecte d with 5 x 10(4) and 5 x 10(5) viable cells of Listeria monocytogenes SLCC 4013. About 50-80 h after this challenge, al mice of the untreate d control groups succumbed to their infection. Pretreatment of experim ental animals on the optimal immunoactive schedule with the galactosid e-specific mistletoe lectin (ML-1; 1 ng/kg body weight; days 1,4, 5, 6 before challenge), however, evidently reduced the lethality of lister ial infection (survival rate 60%).