Induction of interferon in mice and cell cultures by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Inoculation of mice and L and human embryonic lung (HEL) cell cultures with Mycoplasma pneumoniae failed to induce the production of interferon. M. pneumoniae multiplied in these cell cultures without a marked cytopathic effect. M. pneumoniae induced interferon in human peripheral blood leukocytes with maximum titres of 32 units/ml at 48 hours after infection.