Prabhakaran K, Harris E B, Kirchheimer W F
Lepr India. 1981 Apr;53(2):160-2.
Permeability of Mycobacterium leprae to dapsone in vitro was determined by the ability of the drug to inhibit o-diphenoloxidase of the bacilli. Dapsone showed little effect on the enzyme activity of the intact organisms. When the M. leprae preparations were washed with trypsin, NaOH, or acetone and ether, DDS penetrated the bacillus to inhibit its o-diphenoloxidase. The method might be useful in studying the utilization of added metabolites by purified M. leprae suspensions.