BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF CELL-ENVELOPE FRAGMENTS OF THE ARCHAEOBACTERIUM SULFOLOBUS-SOLFATARICUS - LETHAL TOXICITY, LOCAL HYPERSENSITIVITY,PYROGENICITY AND SPLEEN LYMPHOCYTE MITOGENICITY

The sensitizing effect and the local and general toxicity related to m embrane components of the archaeobacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus was studied. Cell envelope fragments were biologically active but this ac tivity was lost upon separation of the lipid and protein components. T he envelope fragments exerted lethal effects on mice sensitized with D -galactosamine that were prevented by pretreatment with anti-TNF-alpha serum. This lethal activity occurred in both LPS-responder (BALB/cByJ ) and LPS-nonresponder (C3H/HeJ) mouse strains. In addition, Sulfolobu s envelope fragments tested in rabbits caused a local Shwartzman react ion, and showed pyrogenic activity. In vitro, the envelope fragments t hat act on spleen lymphocytes of the LPS-responder (BALB/cByJ) and LPS -nonresponder (C3H/HeJ) mice caused an uptake of [H-3]thymidine simila r to that caused by concanavalin A. A similar toxic activity to that e xerted by eubacteria is therefore exerted by this non-pathogenic archa eobacterium despite the difference in surface chemistry.