Many Bacterial Species are Mitogenic for Human Blood B Lymphocytes

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Abstract
Thirty bacterial species were tested for their ability to stimulate to increased DNA synthesis in human blood lymphocytes. A definite stimulation was obtained with eighteen bacterial species. For three of these species ten different strains of each were tested, and all increased DNA synthesis. The maximum response was after 3–4 days of culture, suggesting a mitogenic effect. This was confirmed by the induction of polyclonal antibody production shown by a plaque assay, which was positive for nine of eleven species tested. Most bacterial species increased the DNA synthesis in B‐lymphocyte‐enriched and unseparated lymphocytes but had negligible activity on T‐lymphocyte‐enriched cultures. Among bacteria with a mitogenic effect and ability to induce polyclonal antibody production are Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I with a high content of protein A and many common human pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Streptococcus group A and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

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