INHIBITION OF MULTIPLICATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE IN MOUSE FOOT PADS BY IMMUNIZATION WITH RIBOSOMAL FRACTION AND CULTURE FILTRATE FROM MYCOBACTERIUM-BOVIS BCG

Immunization of mice with the ribosomal fraction from ruptured Mycobac terium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and the culture filtrate r educed remarkably the multiplication of Mycobacterium leprae in the fo ot pads of mice, This is the first reported case of the protective act ivity against M, leprae multiplication in mice of the BCG ribosomal fr action and culture filtrate. The inhibition was more evident with the culture filtrate than with the ribosomal fraction. When the ribosomal proteins separated from ribosomal RNA were injected into mice, only sl ight inhibition was observed Ribosomal RNA alone did not inhibit at al l, in contrast to the conclusion reported by Youmans and Youmans. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.