Enhancement and depression of the antibody response in mice caused by Corynebacterium parvum.
Corynebacterium parvum was shown to be capable of both enhancing and depressing antibody responses to SRBC and SSS III. These effects were dependent on the dose of antigen and its time of administration with respect to C. parvum. Alterations in the amount of the antigen reaching the spleen could not fully account for these effects. C. parvum depressed the capacity of spleen cells to transfer an antibody response. The homing of 51Cr-labelled lymph node cells to the spleen was not affected by C. parvum treatment of recipients. The possible mechanisms of the adjuvant and depressive effects of C. parvum on the antibody response are discussed in the light of these findings.