Mycoplasma (PPLO) and Murphy-Sturm Lymphosarcoma. ∗ †

Abstract

Summary

Mycoplasma (PPLO) transmitted with the Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma at time of transplant, a) did not modify tumor growth, b) mildly increased the low incidence of spontaneous regression of the tumor and, c) increased the regression due to bacterial polysaccharide and to established PPLO polyarthritis. Following their intravenous injection, PPLO were readily cultured from tumor tissue. When injected prior to transplant of tumor cells, persistent polyarthritis developed but PPLO did not appear in the subsequent tumor. However, when 2 tumors, one infected and one free of PPLO, were transplanted to the same rat, PPLO appeared in the original PPLO-free tumor after moderate tumor size was attained. Agar plate cultures of PPLO indicated several colony sizes and an occasional diffuse surface spread.