The mycolic acids of Mycobacterium leprae harvested from experimentally infected nine-banded armadillos.

Mycolic acid methyl esters were prepared from defatted cells of armadillo-derived Mycobacterium leprae and analysed by thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatography, proton magnetic resonance spectrometry and mass spectroscopy. The first type of mycolic acid characterized was an "alpha-mycolate" having two cis-cyclopropane rings, a 78-carbon main component and an overall size-range of 72 to 83 carbons. Ketomycolates, with an 83-carbon main component, were the only other type of mycolate isolated; the major 79- to 87-carbon series of ketomycolates apparently contained a single trans-cyclopropane and the minor 80- to 86-carbon series had a cis-cyclopropane function.