Effects of glycerin and dextran on maintenance of the activity of Mycobacterium leprae in a cell-free liquid medium

Abstract

In the previous paper, it was indicated that the activity (ATP values extracted from collected cells) of Mycobacterium leprae could be maintained in the phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing fetal calf serum (10%) for more than 4 weeks under the incubation at 30 degrees C. The present paper describes that the activity of cells of M.leprae is prolonged and somewhat stimulated when glycerin and dextran are added to the buffer serum system. The optimal concentrations for glycerin and dextran are 2% and 1%, respectively. In addition, it is found that the dextran of MW. 200,000-300,000 is much more effective than that of MW. 100,000-200,000.