Immunomodulation in mice by Bacillus megaterium and its dependence on culture conditions

Mice pretreated with Bacillus megaterium ATCC 33085 grown on TSA medium developed a significant increase in primary antibody response to SRBC. Conversely, pretreatment with a spore suspension harvested from nutrient Agar medium decreased this antibody response. A suspension of organisms grown on a defined, phosphorus-deficient medium (P-Medium) had no effect. Otherwise, only the spore suspension was able to enhance the contact sensitivity to dinitrofluorobenzene. Peritoneal leucocyte numbers were increased by inoculation with both TSA-cultured bacteria and the spore suspension, but not by P-Medium-cultured bacteria. Administration of both the spore suspension and P-Medium-cultured bacteria decreased the in vitro phagocytosis by peritoneal adherent cells. These immunomodulator properties are discussed in relation to characteristics of the strain tested.     

Promoting effect of the Chinese medicinal herb, wikstroemia chamaedaphne and tung oil extracts on carcinoma of the uterine cervix induced by HSV-2 or methylcholanthrene (MCA) in mice

The promoting effect of the Chinese medicinal herb, Wikstroemia chamaedaphne and Tung oil extracts (WC and HHPA) on carcinoma of uterine cervix induced by HSV-2 or MCA in mice was studied. The results showed that WC and HHPA extracts were not carcinogenic themselves. After carcinogen HSV-2 and MCA treatment, WC and HHPA were added separately. The inducing rates by HSV-2 increased from 7.4% to 21.1% and 26.3%, those by MCA increased from 56.5% to 82.8% and 84.4%. There was a significant difference between the combined groups and groups with HSV-2 or MCA only. The experimental results suggest that these two kinds of extracts play a promoting effect on carcinogenesis. The relation between the carcinogenesis of uterine cervix or nasopharynx and WC or HHPA extracts is discussed.