[Endotoxic contamination of biological products (ribosomal vaccines, viral vaccines and interferon)].

The A.A. have examined by the Limulus assay the possible endotoxin contamination in some biological products (ribosomal vaccines, viral vaccines, interferon). While the preparations of influenza vaccines and a partially purified fraction of ribosomal vaccine from Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibit a gelation of lysate with high levels of endotoxin, rubeola vaccines, interferon and a purified fraction of ribosomal vaccine, presented a negligible amount of endotoxin. The results are discussed with the aim to examine the possible role of contaminating endotoxin in the mediation of some adverse effects and of the unsuspected extrinsic adjuvant activities developed in clinical and experimental use of these preparations.