The leprosy bacillus: a microbe-dependent microbe.

L Kato

PubMed · 2831691

The leprosy bacillus: a microbe-dependent microbe.

Abstract

Since the discovery of the leprosy bacillus, cultivable mycobacteria were regularly found in lepratic tissues of humans and armadillos. Unpublished data indicate that Professor Hugo Preisz isolated and collected several cultures of unidentified cultivable strains of mycobacteria from leprosy sufferers. Recent findings suggest that Mycobacterium leprae is a microbe-dependent, mycobactin-deficient microorganism. The author proposes the concept that secondary mycobacteria found in leprosy cases are ethilogical cofactors in the pathogenesis of leprosy. Since secondary mycobacteria are rich in mycobactin, it is suggested that they provide the essential mycobactin for growth multiplication and virulence for the mycobactin deficient leprosy bacilli. The implications of this concept are discussed.

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Bacteriological Techniques Cytochrome c Group Humans Leprosy Mycobacterium leprae Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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L Kato. The leprosy bacillus: a microbe-dependent microbe.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2831691/

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