Immunological studies with sulpholipids of mycobacteria

Antibodies to sulpholipids of mycobacteria were produced in rabbits when injected as sulpholipid-MBSA complexes and were detected by kaolin agglutination and double diffusion techniques. Sulpholipid antibodies did not cross react with any other lipids of mycobacteria except cord-factor. The antigenicity of sulpholipids appears to be due to alpha-D-trehalose and sulphate groups. Guinea pigs immunized with sulpholipid-MBSA complexes showed partial protection against tuberculous infection with M. tuberculosis H37Rv, as revealed by mortality rate and score of lesions.