THE INFLUENCE OF PROPIONIBACTERIUM-ACNES (CORYNEBACTERIUM-PARVUM) FRACTIONS ON IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN-VIVO

Bacterin of Propionibacterium acnes (Corynebacterium parvum), its cell ular fractions (lipids, fractions obtained by mechanical disruption an d differential centrifugation, by phenol-water and pyridine extraction s), and a polysaccharide from culture filtrate were prepared and teste d in mice. The activation of RES by splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, pre vention of listerial infection, prevention of the lethal effect of sar coma 180, and depression of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 were emp loyed. The bacterin was effective in all tests. Lipid-free cells were less active, in particular in the activation of RES and in the listeri al infection model. Fractions prepared by the disruption and different ial centrifugation lost their activity in all tests along with a decre ase in molecular weight. Lipids extracted by ethanol caused pronounced splenomegaly and decreased the cytochrome P-450 content. The residue left after the phenol-water extraction was very active, its delipidati on did not destroy the activity. Pyridine extraction provided a comple tely inactive extract, but a very active residue. The possibility of r educing the complexity of bacterin while preserving immunomodulatory e ffect is demonstrated.