Modulation of immune response by killed Brucella abortus organisms: comparison of the effects of smooth and rough strains on T-dependent responses.

Inactivated Brucella abortus organisms of the smooth (S) or rough (R) strain were tested comparatively on two T-dependent immune responses: mixed-lymphocyte reaction and delayed-type hypersensitivity. The intravenous injection of S organisms depressed the two tests, whereas R organisms increased mixed-lymphocyte reaction and did not alter delayed-type hypersensitivity significantly. This observation may be helpful in understanding the differences in adjuvant properties of S and R brucellae.