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Factors Influencing the in vitro Growth of Mycobacterium leprae : Effect of Oxygen
Author(s) -
Dhople Arvind Madhav,
Lamoureux Laurie Christine
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1991.tb01581.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium leprae , in vitro , biology , oxygen tension , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , microaerophile , liquid medium , oxygen , bacteria , leprosy , immunology , chemistry , biochemistry , chromatography , genetics , organic chemistry
In our efforts to evaluate factors responsible for in vitro growth of Mycobacterium leprae in DH medium and also to improve the system, effects of oxygen tension on in vitro growth of M. leprae were determined. This was achieved by varying the ratio between DH medium and free air space above the medium in the culture tubes. Growth‐competent M. phlei (ATCC 11758) could tolerate all the oxygen it can get in the medium. On the other hand, M. leprae seemed to be of microaerophilic nature. In vivo‐grown M. leprae cells were more sensitive than their counterparts that were adapted to in vitro environment. In vivo‐grown cells grew better when 70 o o of the space in culture tube was occupied by DH medium. These in vit ro‐adapted cells gave optimum growth in subcultures when the air spaces in the culture tubes were 40–50 o o . The role of oxygen tensions in the development of lesions in leprosy patients and armadillos has been discussed.