The simultaneous injection of 4 × 108 sheep erythrocytes and 3 × 109 killed cells of Bordetella pertussis effects an accelerated and prolonged multiplication of antibody-forming spleen cells if compared with mice immunized with the erythrocyte antigen only. If mice of both groups are given a second injection of 4 × 108 sheep erythrocytes 6 weeks later, the numbers of indirect plaque-forming cells are markedly increased in pertussis-treated mice. This is connected with enhanced 7 S serum hemolysin titers. The conclusion is drawn that an initial injection of B. pertussis prepares the lymphoid tissues of mice for the secondary immune response.
We carried out a study on the adjuvant effect of
Bordetella pertussis
vaccine on the primary and secondary immune responses of the mouse to sheep erythrocytes, quantitating antibody-producing spleen cells and serum antibody. The simultaneous injection of sheep erythrocytes and
B. pertussis
, when compared to immunization with sheep red blood cells alone, resulted in an increased and prolonged multiplication of antibody-forming spleen cells. The adjuvant effect was also documented by increased production of serum hemolysins and agglutinins. Further,
B. pertussis
enhanced the priming effect of the antigen for the secondary response. However, when the bacterial adjuvant was given together with a second antigenic stimulus 41 days after the primary immunization, the peak values of direct and indirect plaque-forming spleen cells did not differ from the corresponding control animals further inoculated with sheep erythrocytes alone. Nonetheless, the influence of the bacterial adjuvant was still expressed by the delayed decrease of the numbers of plaque-forming spleen cells. On the basis of the X-Y-Z scheme it is suggested that
B. pertussis
cells as adjuvant enhance the multiplication of antigen-sensitive X cells or affect the initial stages of differentiation of these cells. This effect of the pertussis vaccine can be distinguished from a general proliferative action on other cells.
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