Specific in-vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation activities of Brucella abortus fractions obtained by column chromatography

A Brucella abortus soluble antigen (BASA) preparation and fractions obtained thereof, by column chromatography, were compared in terms of their ability to induce specific lymphocyte stimulation responses (LSR) in lymphocytes from cattle infected with B. abortus. Endotoxin and protein contents and the fractions were determined. The LSR induced by BASA and the fractions were compared in terms of correctly identifying samples from infected and non-infected cattle. The sensitivity and specificity for each preparation were determined and these two attributes were then correlated with endotoxin and protein content. The results suggest that lymphocyte stimulation had greater association with relative protein content than endotoxin content of the antigen preparations.