Ishaque M
Institute of Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec, Laval, Canada.
Microbios. 1990;64(258):7-17.
Despite numerous attempts, Mycobacterium leprae has yet to be cultivated in vitro. This organism has been considered as microaerophilic. The effects of various known gas mixtures on the in vitro growth of M. leprae were investigated. A gas mixture containing 2.5% O2 and 10% CO2 was found to be more favourable for the growth of this mycobacterium on artificial medium. Growth was evaluated by three parameters namely cell counts, bacterial ATP and DNA. An optimal growth of M. leprae, as determined by all three parameters, on both liquid and solid media was obtained between 18 and 24 weeks of incubation under optimal gas mixture. Solid medium which contained egg-yolk was relatively more beneficial for in vitro growth than the liquid medium. The cultivated bacilli exhibited some important characteristics specific for M. leprae, including growth in mouse foot-pads. The bacilli gradually lost their power of adaptation to grow on artificial media and did not show any ATP or DNA after about 36 weeks of incubation.
尽管进行了多次尝试，但麻风分枝杆菌仍无法在体外培养。这种微生物被认为是微需氧菌。研究了各种已知气体混合物对麻风分枝杆菌体外生长的影响。发现含有2.5%氧气和10%二氧化碳的气体混合物更有利于这种分枝杆菌在人工培养基上生长。通过细胞计数、细菌ATP和DNA这三个参数评估生长情况。在最佳气体混合物条件下培养18至24周时，通过所有这三个参数确定，麻风分枝杆菌在液体和固体培养基上均实现了最佳生长。含有蛋黄的固体培养基比液体培养基对体外生长相对更有益。培养出的杆菌表现出一些麻风分枝杆菌特有的重要特征，包括在小鼠足垫中生长。杆菌逐渐失去在人工培养基上生长的适应能力，在培养约36周后不再显示任何ATP或DNA。
