Role of interferon in mice in protection against influenza A virus by bacterial ribosomes together with membranal glycoproteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae as adjuvant.

Nonspecific protection against infectious aerosols of influenza A virus was obtained in Swiss mice after vaccination by aerosols of bacterial ribosomes together with membranal glycoproteins extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae as the adjuvant. It was shown that repeated stimulant aerosols were necessary to obtain this protection. Routine estimation of serum interferon levels after administration of the association of ribosomes plus membranal glycoproteins to the animals by aerosol or intravenous route showed that there was no correlation between protection and the presence of serum interferon. It was shown that the serum interferon-inducer activity was due to ribosomes. No induction of serum interferon was obtained with membranal glycoproteins used separately. Local liberation of interferon in the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract was not investigated.