Influence of Paleobacteria on the Proliferative Activity of Human Lymphocytes In Vitro

When testing the proliferative activity of 14 strains of permafrost microorganisms in the reaction of blast transformation of human lymphocytes in vitro , a strain ( Alcaligenes sp.) with mitogen properties was isolated (20-fold increase in the rate of lymphocyte proliferation in comparison with the control). Four strains activated lymphocyte proliferation by 3-9 times in comparison with the control. Three strains produced substances with cytostatic properties and reduced proliferation activity by 33-43% and one strain ( Bacillus sp.) almost completely suppressed phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation. These data indicate that strains with a unique immunobiological potential are concentrated in the population of permafrost microorganisms that have undergone rigorous evolutionary selection.