Growth and cytotoxic activity by Mycobacterium ulcerans in protein-free media

The pathogenic slow-growing Mycobacterium ulcerans has, until now, been cul tured in liquid media containing albumin. Here, we report the first descrip tion of use of Sauton medium and modified Reid medium, two protein-free med ia, in which M. ulcerans was able to grow and produce its toxin, a major vi rulence factor of this environmental organism which causes a skin disease c ommonly called Buruli ulcer. These results suggest that Sauton and modified Reid may be useful for certain fields of M. ulcerans research requiring pr otein-free growth conditions. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiologic al Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.