Immunogenicity of mannophosphoinositides of mycobacteria: effect of cord factor (trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate).

Attempts were made to enhance the immunogenicity of mannophosphoinositides of mycobacteria against experimental tuberculosis. It was found that immunization of mice with a combination of mannosides and cord factor, coupled to methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) could not further alter the protective efficacy of mannoside-MBSA complexes against challenge with a LD50 dose of M. tuberculosis H37Rv as seen by survival-to-mortality rate, root-specific lung mass, lung density and bacterial counts recovered from the infected organs.