[Gram-positive bacteria as adjuvants (author's transl)].

Gram-positive bacteria or their constituents influence the immune response in various ways. For instance: Listeria monocytogenes cellwall fraction acts as B-cell mitogen, in this way enhancing a humoral immune response. Corynebacterium parvum acts as a macrophage stimulant evoking maximum macrophage activation. BCG, among other things, leads to an enhancement of a T-cell response to unrelated antigens. The hypothetical therapeutic consequences are discussed.