In vitro cultivation of mycobacteria from human lepromas and from an armadillo infected with mycobacterium leprae.

Experimental evidence has been presented that the host-grown, hitherto noncultivated mycobacteria, M. leprae and M. lepraemurium are metabolically competent microorganisms (1. 5.6. X. II . 12. 14). They are provided with a complete and functional tricarboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain. We also described ( 5.6. 10. II . JJ) that M . leprae and M. lepraemurium have the capacity to oxidize the following substrates: I. Sodium succinate. 2. Substances containing SH groups: Lcysteine, penicillamine and thioglucose. 3. Oleic acid and Tween 80. 4. Unidentified components in the heat stable yeast extract (Difco). Oxidation of some of the above substrates resulted in the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by M. lepraemurium ( I). Based on the above results, culture media were prepared in which the oxidizable substrates were incorporated as prospective energy sources ( 9. 10. 13 ). Additional ingredients such as carbon and nitrogen sources were added to the media. The thus prepared culture media were inoculated with M. leprae isolated from human lepromas and from leprous tissues of an armadillo. When incubated at 34° C, strongly acid-fast mycobacteria were cultured and regular ly subcultured. The cultures of mycobacteria obtained are, so far, unidentified but might be identical to the etio logic agent of human and ! or armadillo leprosy.