Transport of amino-acids across renal brush border membrane vesicles in Mycobacterium leprae infected Swiss albino mice--effect of Convit vaccine.

Abstract

Brush border membrane vesicles prepared from kidneys of Mycobacterium leprae infected (non-vaccinated) and vaccinated-infected Swiss albino mice were used to assess the effect of Convit's combined vaccine (BCG + M. leprae) on amino acid transport activity across the tubular basement membrane. The protective effect of Convit's vaccine was more pronounced with respect to the uptake of L-alanine than L-aspartate. Uptake of L-lysine showed no significant difference in the different groups. Footpad counts followed characteristic growth curves in the non-vaccinated infected group but showed a lag in the development of peak levels in the vaccinated group. Further Convit's vaccine appeared to have a protective effect on renal impairment in the mouse model of leprosy in the initial stages of infection only, as indicated by the transient reversal of amino acid uptake and a diminution in the footpad counts induced by M. leprae infection. No significant (P > 0.05) protective effect of the vaccine was found in the advanced disease state.