Systemic human disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium avium-Mycob
acterium intracellulare complex (MAC) represent a chronic intracellular inf
ection in human hosts who are usually immunocompromised. To develop improve
d treatment and prophylaxis, and to obtain a better understanding of pathog
enesis, we studied the beige mouse (C57 beige(+)/beige(+)) challenged orall
y or intravenously with a human isolate that causes lethal disease in patie
nts with AIDS (MAC 101, serovar 1). Encouraging anti-MAC studies in animals
, as reviewed here, should provide the basis for considering human trials w
ith a promising agent. The ability of an antimicrobial agent to achieve hig
h intracellular concentrations has correlated with the in vivo activity of
several specific compounds.