Sensitization or tolerance to Mycobacterium leprae antigen by route of injection
Aqueous suspensions of heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae in a dose of 10(7) organisms were highly immunogenic when injected intradermally (i.d.). The same dose of bacteria did not sensitize when given intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intravenously (i.v.), and did so only minimally at best when given subcutaneously. The i.d. route was the most immunogenic for sheep erythrocytes also. M. leprae injected i.p. or i.v. stimulated immune tolerance to M. leprae challenge i.d. In older mice (greater than or equal to 8 weeks), the i.v. injections gave more complete tolerance. Mice that had been rendered tolerant by i.v. injections maintained their tolerance for at least 168 days. Prior UV irradiation of intact mice prevented sensitization by the i.d. route. In normal mice, living M. bovis BCG given i.d. produced good sensitization to M. leprae. Mice that had been made tolerant by i.v. injection of M. leprae could be partially sensitized to M. leprae by i.d. immunization with BCG; mixtures of living BCG and heat-killed M. leprae were no more effective than BCG alone. These findings appear to have relevance to the pathogenesis of lepromatous leprosy and its immunoprophylaxis.
- Research Organization:
- Leprosy Laboratory, Bacterial Diseases Division, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia
- OSTI ID:
- 6429639
- Journal Information:
- Infect. Immun.; (United States), Vol. 38:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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IMMUNE REACTIONS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
MYCOBACTERIUM
IMMUNITY
ANTIGENS
INJECTION
LABORATORY ANIMALS
LEPROSY
PATHOLOGY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL DISEASES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INTAKE
MICROORGANISMS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
560134* - Radiation Effects on Microorganisms- Vaccine Preparation & Other Applications- (-1987)
560152 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals