This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lemonde, P. Articles by Clode-Hyde, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lemonde, P. Articles by Clode-Hyde, M.

Influence of Bacille Calmette-Guérin Infection on Polyoma in Hamsters and Mice¹

Institut de Microbiologie et d'Hygiène de l'Université de Montréal, Laval-des-Rapides, Quebec, Canada

In hamsters inoculated with tubercle bacilli of the Calmette-Guérin strain (BCG) a week after birth and later with polyoma virus, the incidence of malignant changes was reduced and survival was considerably prolonged; hemagglutination-inhibiting, complement-fixing, and neutralizing antibodies against the virus were augmented. However, in controls given polyoma virus but no BCG, animals with higher titers of antibodies died earlier and had more neoplastic lesions than those with low titers. This suggests the presence of other types of antibodies, which would also be stimulated by BCG and would be responsible for protection against neoplasia.

In mice inoculated with the virus at birth and with BCG later, the incidence of tumors was not changed, but other results were similar to those seen in hamsters (prolonged life, increased antibodies), although less significant.

¹ This work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute of Canada.

Received 7/ 6/65.