Immunomodulation with bacterial extracts in respiratory diseases.

A lyophilized bacterial extract (Broncho-Vaxom) has been studied in a large number of models and found to induce specific and nonspecific responses by oral administration. It stimulates the systemic and local immune response. It activates the macrophages that play a key part in the immune system, modulates the immunoglobulin level, and potentiates the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and other mitogens. The effect of this bacterial extract on T-lymphocyte subpopulations is currently under study.