Adjuvant activity of bacterial peptidoglycans on the production of delayed hypersensitivity and on antibody response.

Purified peptidoglycans from various gram-negative bacteria can substitute for mycobacteria in Freund's type adjuvant. The effect of adjuvants on the production of delayed hypersensitivity in the guinea pig was studied with azobenzenearsonateNacetylLtyrosine as antigen. It was found that only a few μg of peptidoglycan per animal were needed. An adjuvant effect on antibody response to egg albumin was also obtained.