Cell-mediated immunoprotection in blastomycosis.

Delayed hypersensitivity can be induced in C57BL/6J mice by two subcutaneous injections of Merthiolate-killed Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast cells in Freund incomplete adjuvant. Development of delayed hypersensitivity peaked at the day 18 post-primary antigen-emulsion injection, as determined by footpad sensitivity tests. Mice rendered hypersensitive to B. dermatitidis were protected from the lethal effect of a blastomyces infection. The protection effects were shown both in mortality tests and in data from organ cultures as expressed by indices of resistance. Data from this study show that there is a close parallel relationship between host resistance and the prevailing level of delayed hypersensitivity.