Biological activity of bacterial surface components. Immunogenicity and immunomodulatory properties of a bacterial extract from Escherichia coli.

The immunogenic and immunomodulatory properties of a lysed fraction from selected E. coli strains (OM-89, Uro-Vaxom) were determined in vivo and in vitro. It could be demonstrated that OM-89 constitutes an active immunogen in mice. Maximum OM-89-specific antibody titers were obtained after 4-5 i.p. immunizations; the titers could be further enhanced by the simultaneous injection of lipopeptide adjuvants. It was shown by ELISA that the antibodies obtained bound to the bacterial strains used for the preparation of the OM-89 extract. Immunogenicity was observed both after intraperitoneal and oral application of the extract. Besides being active as an immunogen. OM-89 was able to act in vitro as a polyclonal lymphocyte activator, as determined in splenocyte cultures of different inbred murine strains, and in cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Our results show that the B lymphocyte stimulating activity of the bacterial extract OM-89 was comparable to that of lipopeptide adjuvants. In conclusion, the bacterial extract both an active immunogen in vivo, and a polyclonal B cell activator in vitro. These findings may be of importance for the understanding of the therapeutic effect of OM-89.