Further studies on the H-2 linked dependence of the adjuvant action of Brucella abortus

The B 19S strain of Brucella abortus has been found to act as an adjuvant to the anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) reaction in some congenic strains of mice but not in others. If the recipient was H-2sup(b), there was no adjuvant effect (B 19S); neither was there (thymus-dependent) anti-B 19S reaction as measured by thymocyte activation and change of electrophoretic mobility. In contrast, there was a thymus-independent anti-B 19S reaction (production of haemagglutinins) as good in the H-2sup(b) mice as in the others. Experiments with T cell deprived mice showed that the adjuvant action of B 19S was thymus-dependent. As the anti-SRBC reaction without adjuvant was also thymus-dependent, it was difficult to distinguish anti-SRBC and anti-B reactions from the adjuvant action of B 19S on the anti-SRBC reaction. Several explanations are possible, all involving H-2 (Isup(r)) controlled thymus dependent mechanisms. (author)