CHARACTERIZATION OF MACROMOLECULES ELABORATED DURING IMMUNOSTIMULATION BY MYCOBACTERIUM-PHLEI AND MURAMYL DIPEPTIDE (MDP)

An immunostimulant prepared from saprophytic Mycobacterium phlei induc ed strong CMIR. The SRF and MIF activity in lymphocyte culture superna tant of ISMP and MDP immunostimulated chicks surd guineapigs exhibited SRF and MIF activity. The ISMP induced SRF activity was approximately 3 times more pronounced than MDP. Purified SRF was sensitive to prote olysis, heat labile at 56 degrees C, but resistant to DNAse and RNAse. Its activity could be prevented by hydrocortisone in vivo. The MIF ac tivity of immunostimulated chicks and guineapigs was thermostable and proteolysis sensitive.