Induction of interferon production in mice by delipidated whole cells and fractions of the aerobic corynebacterium, Corynebacterium catarrhalis.

Abstract The i.v. or i.p. injection of delipidated whole cells of an aerobic Corynebacterium, designated as C. catarrahalis , resulted in the production of a low titre of interferon in mice. Two fractions, a particulate fraction, designated as CBA p40, and a soluble fraction, designated as CBA LS, could be isolated from the delipidated whole cells and were found to lead to the formation of more or less high interferon levels according to the route of administration. Furthermore, the CBA p40 fraction, when injected i.p., elicited the production of a maximum titre of interferon at the 24th hour (viral-like interferon).