Adoptive transfer of immunity and suppression by cells and serum in early Mycobacterium lepraemurium infections of mice.

The ability of lymphocytes and serum from mice infected with 10(7) Mycobacterium lepraemurium to adoptively transfer resistance to irradiated (600 rad 60 cobalt) syngeneic mice was studied. Two strains of mice were used: BALB/c mice, which are highly susceptible to moderate cutaneous infections with M. lepraemurium, and C57Bl mice, which are comparatively resistant. In both strains of mice recipients of nylon wool non-adherent spleen cells, and thus T lymphocyte recipients, demonstrated increased resistance to subcutaneous infection with 10(7) M. lepraemurium. Significantly increased susceptibility to infection was noted in the BALB/c recipients of nylon wool adherent spleen cells or serum. No suppressor activity could be demonstrated in the resistant C57Bl strain.