Cross-reactions in cell mediated immunity induced by atypical mycobacteria.
Cross-reactivity in the delayed hypersensitivity response to mycobacteria of different Runyon groups was tested in Swiss white mice immunised with live mycobacteria. All the strains tested gave cross-reactions and, generally, slow growers gave stronger cross-reactions with other slow growers than with rapid growers and vice versa. Sonicates of cross-reacting mycobacteria were also tested for their ability to generate activated macrophages in mice immunised with Mycobacterium avium. All the mycobacterial sonicates generated activated macrophages but a sonicate of Salmonella typhi did not. The sonicate of M. tuberculosis H37Rv also generated activated macrophages, which indicates that there might be protective cross-reactions between M. tuberculosis and atypical mycobacteria.
D000818:Animals; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007114:Immunization; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*