Analysis of variation in batches of armadillo-derived Mycobacterium leprae by immunoblotting.

Several batches of cell-free extracts of armadillo-derived Mycobacterium leprae were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and by immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies. The presence or absence of protease inhibitors had a profound effect on the protein antigens, particularly the 65-kDa antigen. In the absence of protease inhibitors, there were both quantitative and qualitative differences between the different batches of M. leprae extracts.