Stimulation of cynomolgus peripheral blood lymphocytes with tetanus toxoid and smallpox vaccine.

The cynomolgus monkey was studied as an animal model to investigate the cell-mediated immunity induced by vaccines. Optimal conditions are described to isolate peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lymphocyte transformation tests were performed with tetanus toxoid and smallpox vaccine. Antigen-specific lymphocyte transformations with smallpox vaccine could only be demonstrated when lymphocytes were obtained from vaccinated monkeys. Tetanus toxoid appeared to be a weak antigen. However, after adsorption of the toxoid to aluminum phosphate, a significant antigen-specific lymphocyte transformation was observed.