Protection of mice against bacterial infection by interferon inducers

Antibacterial effect of known interferon inducers was investigated. Intraperitoneal injection of statolon or pyran markedly enhanced the survival of mice challenged with Klebsiella pneumoniae. The sparing effect of these two interferon inducers resembled that of bacterial endotoxin. Significant protection was obtained when the inducers were administered 24 hr before challenge. Treatments given 6 hr before or at the time of infection were ineffective. The persistence of increased resistance of treated animals to encephalomyocarditis virus strain MM, inoculated 5 days after challenge with K. pneumoniae, indicated that the bacterial infection did not adversely influence the induction or effectiveness of interferon.