Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die immunstimulierende (paramunisierende) Wirksamkeit von BCG, Levamisol, Corynebacterium parvum und Präparaten aus Pockenviren in verschiedenen “in vivo”-und “in vitro”-Testen

The long-standing history of Corynebacterium parvum, immunity, and viruses

We report a review of all the experimental and clinical studies performed in the last 60 years on the antiviral activity of inactivated Corynebacterium parvum (Cutibacterium acnes). This bacterium has been originally investigated and used for its oncolytic properties linked to immunomodulating activity, but the interest to successfully prevent and treat bacterial, fungal, and viral infections and lethality, uprising the innate immunity barriers produced many experimental models and very few clinical studies. The dramatic defenseless situation due to impending CoViD‐19 pandemic claims to exhume and highlight this aspecific strategy in preventive and therapeutic settings; as a matter of fact, no new or mutated virus can potentially escape to this strong innate immune surveillance strengthened by adequate C. parvum protocols.

Taking advantage of the positive side-effects of smallpox vaccination

From the introduction of smallpox vaccination approximately 200 years ago right up to its discontinuation (1980), reports by physicians and scientists about positive side-effects such as healing of chronic skin rashes, reduced susceptibility to various infectious diseases, e.g. measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough, and even the prophylactic use of the vaccination, e.g. against syphilis, were published again and again. Comparison with the period after cessation of vaccination confirms the experiences of the above vaccinators. As early as 1956, targeted research on these observations led to evidence of the 'ring-zone phenomenon', i.e. the production of soluble antiviral substances in infected chicken embryos and cell cultures. With the help of modern immunological and bioengineering methods, it was later possible to demonstrate that these effects are based on the activation of lymphoreticular cells and the regulatory effect of certain cytokines within the context of the non-specific immune system. These findings led to the development of paramunization with paraspecific vaccines from highly attenuated animal pox viruses. During attenuation, deletions in the virus DNA occur. Attenuated animal pox strains are therefore suited for the production of vector vaccines. The fact that these vector vaccines demonstrate an especially high level of paraspecific efficacy and lack harmful effects is likewise the result of the attenuated animal pox viruses. Optimum regulation of the entire immune system leads to increased paramunity already in the first few days after vaccination and to enhanced antigen recognition and thus accelerated commencement of specific immunity.

Evidence for a parapox ovis virus-associated superantigen

As shown in a number of species, susceptibility to infectious diseases can be efficiently reduced following application of inactivated parapox ovis viruses (iPPOV). However, the basic mechanism for this stimulating capacity of iPPOV remains unclear. When analyzed, the interaction of iPPOV with porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells was seen to involve T helper cells as the main target cell population responding to iPPOV. These cells displayed a strong proliferation, and were the major source for the observed increased levels of IL-2. Activation of the T helper cells was MHC class II dependent, but not MHC class II restricted: cellular processing of iPPOV was not required for presentation by autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic MHC class II molecules. Furthermore, CD3 and CD4 molecules were involved in the stimulation, indicating a receptor-mediated activation of T helper cells. The results demonstrated typical characteristics of a superantigen-induced response providing evidence for a viral component within PPOV functioning as superantigen(s) in swine.

Effect of an inactivated Parapoxvirus based immunomodulator (Baypamun) on post weaning diarrhoea syndrome and wasting pig syndrome of piglets

Post weaning diarrhoea syndrome (PWDS) and wasting pig syndrome (WPS) are two entities of the pig industry induced by stress factors occurring at the early weaning and further complicated by opportunistic pathogens. In the present paper we examine--through one pilot and one final trial--whether prevention of these two syndromes can be achieved in the field by immunomodulation of the pig e.g., by improving its non-specific immunological response. In both trials two groups of early weaned piglets were submitted to the treatments. In the pilot trial the first group received no treatment and served as controls and the animals of the second group were injected twice with an inactivated Parapoxvirus based immunomodulator (Baypamun, Bayer, Germany). In the final trial the first group of piglets received no treatment and served as a control group. The animals of the second group were injected twice with a freeze-dried immunomodulator (Baypamun). Piglets were compared with regard to the severity of PWS, mortality, growth performance parameters, and for the presence of pathogens in their faeces. The results have shown that Baypamun treated piglets performed significantly better than negative control piglets in all the parameters examined. It was concluded that stimulation of the non-specific immunity of piglets may be helpful in preventing the appearance of PWDS and WPS in the field.

Poxvirus preparation CONPIND initiates production of the major inflammatory mediators IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha in human whole blood and in blood mononuclear cell cultures

The poxvirus preparation CONPIND initiated the production of the two major inflammatory mediators interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in whole blood and in blood mononuclear cell cultures of man at 37 degrees C within 12-48 h. The release of the cytokines followed a dose-efficacy curve. High levels of IL1-alpha (up to 810 pg/ml) and TNF-alpha (up to 533 pg/ml) were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Effect of a paramunity inducer on reproductive performance of gilts

Optimal reproductive performance of gilts is an economically important characteristic which is influenced amongst others by the general health condition of the animal. In the present pilot study, we examined whether reproductive performance of gilts that were transported from a breeding to a commercial farm can be improved by paramunization, e.g. by enhancing the non-specific immunological response of the animal. Three groups of gilts were submitted to various treatments as follows. The first group received no treatment and served as the control group. The gilts of the second group were injected twice with a paramunity inducer derived from a sheep parapoxvirus (Baypamun liquid, Bayer, Germany), once 2 days before the transport and a second time 2 h before departure. The gilts of the third group were treated as those of the second group, but received an additional injection 2 days after their arrival at the commercial farm. Gilts were compared up to their first farrowing with regard to the appearance of oestrus, the number of the gilts which became pregnant, and the cost of supportive medication. Their litter size at farrowing, the number of piglets born alive and the litter weight have also been recorded. The results show that the number of gilts that showed oestrus and became pregnant was increased after Baypamun liquid treatment, particularly in the third group. The cost of supportive medication per gilt was much lower in treated groups compared to untreated animals. The treatment did not have a significant effect on the total number of piglets born, but some beneficial effect was seen in the number of piglets born alive and the average piglet weight at birth of gilts treated three times with Baypamun liquid. It was concluded that paramunization of gilts at the time of transport may improve their reproductive performance.

The use of a non-specific defence mechanism inducer in calves exposed to bovine herpesvirus-1 infection: preliminary trials

The efficacy of an immunomodulator, the Baypamun (Bayer AG), was tested in calves which were subsequently exposed to bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) infection. Two groups of calves, of 8 animals each, were used for two trials. In one trial, 4 calves were treated with the immunomodulator and the remaining 4 were left as untreated controls. Two hours after the first injection of Baypamun, all calves, i.e. the treated and the untreated ones, were challenged with BHV-1. Comparing them to the untreated controls, the calves which were given the immunomodulator developed milder signs of the disease and shed a significantly lower concentration of virus. In the second experiment, 4 calves were given Baypamun and 4 calves were not, as above, but they were not inoculated with BHV-1; however, they were housed together with the calves of the former group (experimentally infected with BHV-1). The 8 calves all became infected but those that had been treated with Baypamun did not show any clinical signs of the disease, whereas the untreated calves underwent a clinical response which was considered to be typical of BHV-1 respiratory infection, as usually seen under natural conditions. In this case the shedding of virus by the calves treated with the immunomodulator also underwent a significant reduction.

Treatment of chronic stomatitis of cats by local paramunization with PIND-ORF

33 cats, suffering from chronic stomatitis, were treated with orally given paramunity inducer PIND-ORF (local paramunization). As a control 39 cats in the same practice were treated with other conventional methods. The reconvalescence rate (healing without rezidives) of experimental animals was 42%. From control animals only 13% reached this status. Oral paramunization with PIND-ORF is recommended as an alternative treatment for hitherto existing therapeutic measures against chronic stomatitis.