Open AccessThe effect of body temperature and cell-mediated immunity on the growth of Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium leprae in mice
Author(s) -
Ron Lancaster,
M. J. Colston,
G. R. F. Hilson,
Sue M. Turner
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of medical microbiology/journal of medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1473-5644
pISSN - 0022-2615
DOI - 10.1099/00222615-14-4-493
Subject(s) - mycobacterium marinum , mycobacterium leprae , immunity , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , armadillo , mycobacterium , mutant , immunology , immune system , leprosy , bacteria , genetics , gene
Evidence is presented that the high susceptibility of armadillos to infection with Mycobacterium leprae cannot be explained solely in terms of body temperature because mutant mice maintained with a body temperature similar to that of armadillos do not become heavily infected with M. leprae. The depression of cell-mediated immunity accompanying the low body temperature is not sufficient to produce an overwhelming infection. The results obtained with M. marinum suggest that whereas lack of cell-mediated immunity or a low body temperature result in a moderately enhanced infection in the mouse a combination of both of these factors is required to produce an overwhelming infection involving the internal organs.