Consequence of Nramp1 deletion to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice

129sv mice functionally deleted of the antimicrobial resistance gene, Nramp 1, were found to be as resistant as wild-type mice to infection with the vi rulent H37Rv strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as determined by monitor ing bacterial growth in major organs and recording host survival times. Dea th of infected mice of both types was associated with extensive infection-i nduced pathology in the lungs but not in other major organs. These findings are in keeping with the view that Nramp1 is of limited importance in resis tance to tuberculosis in mice.