Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Bulletin of the World Health Organization logoLink to Bulletin of the World Health Organization
. 1973;49(4):403–410.

The problem of cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae

A review with criteria for evaluating recent experimental work

S R Pattyn
PMCID: PMC2480944  PMID: 4212439

Abstract

Some criteria are presented to help evaluate papers appearing in the literature claiming successful cultivation of M. leprae either in the absence or in the presence of tissue-cultured cells. Recently, electron microscopic studies have definitely shown M. leprae to belong to the genus Mycobacterium and its division to occur through transverse section. A survey is given of the mycobacterial strains isolated in the last 10 years from leprosy lesions. These strains belong to taxonomically different species and cannot be considered to be M. leprae. No substantiated claim was made concerning the in vitro growth of M. leprae and the application of the tissue culture technique has been equally disappointing. The view is expressed that progress towards the in vitro cultivation of M. leprae can be made only as a result of increased knowledge about the intracellular environment and the metabolic activities of this organism, to be obtained by the application of modern biochemical and histochemical techniques.

Full text

PDF
403

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aquino T. I., Skinsnes O. K. Pathobiologic significance of the subcellular organelles of lepra cells. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1970 Apr-Jun;38(2):134–148. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Armstrong J. A., Hart P. D. Response of cultured macrophages to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with observations on fusion of lysosomes with phagosomes. J Exp Med. 1971 Sep 1;134(3 Pt 1):713–740. doi: 10.1084/jem.134.3.713. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BAPAT C. V., RANADIVE K. J., KHANOLKAR V. R. Growth characteristics of an acid-fast Mycobacterium isolated from human lepromatous leprosy. Int J Lepr. 1961 Jul-Sep;29:329–342. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BINFORD C. H. Studies on a Mycobacterium obtained from the golden hamster (Cricetus auratus) after inoculation with lepromatous tissue. Lab Invest. 1962 Nov;11:942–955. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bönicke R. The present state of growth of M. leprae under in vitro conditions. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1971 Apr-Jun;39(2):328–328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chang Y. T., Neikirk R. L. Mycobacterium lepraemurium and Mycobacterium leprae in cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophages (preliminary results). Int J Lepr. 1965 Jul-Sep;33(3 Suppl):586–603. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DE SOUZA-ARAUJO H. C. A nonchromogenic culture of an acid-fast bacillus isolated from the nasal mucus of a leprosy patient; its virulence for laboratory animals. Int J Lepr. 1952 Jul-Sep;20(3):355–360. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DEVIGNAT R. Multiplication of Hansen's bacillus in complex symbiosis in vitro. Nature. 1961 May 27;190:832–832. doi: 10.1038/190832a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Delville J. In vitro behavior of macrophages from healthy persons against M. leprae and other mycobacteria. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1971 Apr-Jun;39(2):329–339. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Draper P., Rees R. J. Electron-transparent zone of mycobacteria may be a defence mechanism. Nature. 1970 Nov 28;228(5274):860–861. doi: 10.1038/228860a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Draper P. The walls of Mycobacterium lepraemurium: chemistry and ultrastructure. J Gen Microbiol. 1971 Dec;69(3):313–324. doi: 10.1099/00221287-69-3-313. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Drutz D. J., Cline M. J. Incorporation of tritiated thymidine by leprosy bacilli in cultures of human lepromatous macrophages. J Infect Dis. 1972 Apr;125(4):416–419. doi: 10.1093/infdis/125.4.416. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Evans M. J., Levy L. Ultrastructural changes in cells of the mouse footpad infected with Mycobacterium leprae. Infect Immun. 1972 Feb;5(2):238–247. doi: 10.1128/iai.5.2.238-247.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Garbutt E. W. Studies on M. lepraemurium and M. leprae in tissue culture. Int J Lepr. 1965 Jul-Sep;33(3 Suppl):578–585. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Gordon J., White R. G. Surface peptido-glycolipid filaments on Mycobacterium leprae. Clin Exp Immunol. 1971 Oct;9(4):539–547. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ilukevich A. Antigenic properties of some mycobacterial strains isolated and cultivated from leprosy tissue. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1971 Apr-Jun;39(2):581–584. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Imaeda T. Electron microscopy. Approach to leprosy research. Int J Lepr. 1965 Jul-Sep;33(3 Suppl):669–688. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Jadin J., François J., Wéry M., Matton-van Leuven M., Languillon J., Moris R., Herman F., Willaert E. La multiplication de Mycobacterium leprae sur fibroblastes de peau humaine. Bull Acad Natl Med. 1966 Nov 29;150(30):612–616. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Jansson E., Tuuri S., Ridley D. S. Isolation of a Mycoplasma from three patients with Lepromatous leprosy. Int J Dermatol. 1971 Jul-Sep;10(3):175–178. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1971.tb01693.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. KUSAKA T., SATO R., SHOJI K. COMPARISON OF CYTOCHROMES IN MYCOBACTERIA GROWN IN VITRO AND IN VIVO. J Bacteriol. 1964 Jun;87:1383–1388. doi: 10.1128/jb.87.6.1383-1388.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kanai K. Biology of the mycobacterioses. Some aspects of the lysosome-bacillus interaction in experimental mouse tuberculosis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1968 Sep 5;154(1):177–193. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1968.tb16708.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kato L., Gozsy B. Selective quinone requirement for a limited in vitro multiplication of M. leprae murium. Rev Can Biol. 1967 Dec;26(4):335–340. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kirchheimer W. F., Storrs E. E. Attempts to establish the armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus Linn.) as a model for the study of leprosy. I. Report of lepromatoid leprosy in an experimentally infected armadillo. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1971 Jul-Sep;39(3):693–702. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Lu Huynh Thanh, Bourges M., Coudert J. Etude en microscopie électronique de mycobactéries cultivées provenant de lépromes humains. I. Observations morphologiques. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales. 1971 Mar-Apr;64(2):159–175. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Mabalay M. C., Mabalay E. B. A culture medium for the isolation of acidfast bacteria in leprous materials. J Philipp Med Assoc. 1966 Apr;42(4):195–211. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Murohashi T., Yoshida K. Attempts at the cultivation of M. Leprae in cell-free, semi-synthetic soft agar media. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1971 Apr-Jun;39(2):308–319. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Murohashi T., Yoshida K. [Cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae using cell-free, semi-synthetic soft agar media. l. Initial attempt to cultivate the organism from leprous nodules]. Nihon Saikingaku Zasshi. 1969 Apr;24(3):202–211. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. NADKARNI J. S., COUTINHO W. G. STUDIES ON SUITABLE MEDIA FOR THE CULTIVATION OF AN ACID FAST MYCOBACTERIUM ISOLATED FROM HUMAN LEPROMATOUS LEPROSY. Indian J Med Res. 1964 May;52:441–452. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. NISHIURA M. The electron microscopic basis of the pathology of leprosy. Int J Lepr. 1960 Oct-Dec;28:357–400. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Ogawa T., Hiraki M. Studies on the murine leprosy bacillus. V. Growth in relation to concentrations of monopotassium phosphate, sodium glutamate, and glycerol in the 1 per cent egg yolk medium, and relation to pH of the medium. Kitasato Arch Exp Med. 1972 Mar;45(1):25–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Ogawa T., Motomura K. Studies on murine leprosy bacillus. I. Attempt to cultivate in vitro the Hawaiian strain of Mycobacterium lepraemurium. Kitasato Arch Exp Med. 1970 Dec;43(3):65–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Palmer E., Rees R. J., Weddell A. G. Site of multiplication of human leprosy bacilli inoculated into the foot-pads of mice. Nature. 1965 May 1;206(983):521–522. doi: 10.1038/206521a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. RANADIVE K. J., NERURKAR R. V., KHANOLKAR V. R. In vitro studies on human leprosy. I. Indian J Med Sci. 1958 Oct;12(10):791–796. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. REES R. J., GARBUTT E. W. Studies on Mycobacterium lepraemurium in tissue culture. I. Multiplication and growth characteristics in cultures of rat fibroblasts. Br J Exp Pathol. 1962;43:221–235. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Rees R. J. Recent bacteriologic, immunologic and pathologic studies on experimental human leprosy in the mouse foot pad. Int J Lepr. 1965 Jul-Sep;33(3 Suppl):646–657. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Rees R. J., Weddell A. G. Biology of the mycobacterioses. Experimental models for studying leprosy. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1968 Sep 5;154(1):214–236. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1968.tb16711.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Reich C. V. Approaches to cultivation of M. leprae in a new laboratory. Int J Lepr. 1965 Jul-Sep;33(3 Suppl):527–532. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. SARKAR J. K. Isolation of diphtheroid-like organisms from human leprous nodules. J Indian Med Assoc. 1962 Apr 16;38:387–388. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Sakurai I., Skinsnes O. K. Lipids in leprosy. I. Histochemistry of lipids in murine leprosy. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1970 Oct-Dec;38(4):379–388. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Sato S., Imi M. The surface structure of M. leprae. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1968 Jul-Sep;36(3):303–308. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Tepper B. S. Problems in the cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae. Related cultivation and biochemical studies with Mycobacterium lepraemurium. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1971 Apr-Jun;39(2):323–327. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. YAMAMOTO T., NISHIURA M., HARADA N., IMAEDA T. Electron microscopy of Mycobacterium leprae murium in ultra-thin sections of murine leprosy lesions. Int J Lepr. 1958 Apr-Jun;26(2):111–114. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Yang H. Y., Skinsnes O. K. Intracellular modulation in cellular immunity. 3. Macrophage lysosome formation and intracellular interaction with phagosome in murine leprosy. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1969 Jul-Sep;37(3):263–269. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. de SOUZA-ARAUJO H. A new culture of an acid-fast bacillus isolated from an experimental Triatoma infestans infection in a leprosy patient. Lepr Rev. 1961 Oct;32:259–262. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Bulletin of the World Health Organization are provided here courtesy of World Health Organization

RESOURCES