The effect of bacterial and fungal phospholipids on the activity of macrophages.

The effect of some bacterial and fungal phospholipids on the functions of macrophage in mice was studied. It has been found that in animals injected with phospholipids from Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus fumigatus the population of macrophages with increased phagocytic and microbicidal activity appeared. The phospholipids from Cryptococcus neoformans and Penicillium notatum did not affect the activity of macrophages. Administration of the Candida albicans phospholipids to mice resulted in the decrease of the macrophage activity. These phospholipids exerted also toxic action on phagocytes in vitro. On the other hand phospholipids from Aspergillus fumigatus stimulated mouse macrophages in vitro.