M. Ishaque et V. Stichtgroh, INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE GROWTH OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE IN A MEDIUM WITH PALMITIC ACID UNDER DIFFERENT GASEOUS ENVIRONMENTS, Microbios, 75(304), 1993, pp. 171-179
Low oxygen tension has often been considered important for the growth
of Mycobacterium leprae. Palmitic acid has been suggested as the oxidi
zable substrate for the in vitro cultivation of leprosy bacilli. The c
ombined effects of palmitic acid and various known gas mixtures on the
in vitro growth of M. leprae were investigated. When palmitic acid wa
s included in the medium an optimal growth in both liquid and solid me
dia was obtained between 16 to 20 weeks of incubation under gas mixtur
es containing 2.5 or 5% O2 and 5 or 10% CO2 as well as air. The use of
different gas mixtures is tedious, time consuming and laborious. Sinc
e the cultures incubated under air gave the same cell yield as obtaine
d when incubated under optimal gas mixtures, air alone can be used for
the in vitro cultivation trials of M. leprae when palmitic acid is in
cluded in the culture medium.