INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE GROWTH OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE IN A MEDIUM WITH PALMITIC ACID UNDER DIFFERENT GASEOUS ENVIRONMENTS

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.