Effect of bacteriocins on interferon production.

The level of interferon induced with NDV in human diploid cell cultures treated with pyocins was decreased compared with the control culture. This effect was maximal when pyocins were given simultaneously with interferon inducers. In experiments in vivo it was shown that pyocin itself induced very small amount if any of interferon, but administered together with NDV inhibited production of circulating interferone in mice. Similar decrease of interferon production was found when other bacteriocins, namely pneumocin 114 or E-47 aerocin, were used.