[Adjuvant activity of the peptidoglycan isolated from the bacterial wall of Brucella abortus 99]

Cell walls were obtained from Brucella abortus 99. A peptidoglucan was isolated from them. Test animals were immunized (albino mice) with pure human gammaglobulin, and in a series of experiments the peptidoglucan was added to the antigen, while in another one it was injected 24 hours later. The titer of the separated serum was determined in terms of the amount of the complement-fixing antibodies present, using the microreaction of complement fixation. It was established that with the addition of the peptidoglucan to the antigen the titer of the newly produced antibodies rose several times. If injected later (24 hours) it did not affect the production of antibodies. Discussed is the mechanism substantiating the rise of the antibody level.