STUDIES ON THE CULTIVATION OF HUMAN AND MURINE LEPROSY BACILLI IN TISSUE CULTURES

I. RELATION BETWEEN TEMPERATURE AND GROWTH OF L-CELLS AND TIME OF INOCULATION OF BACTERIA

Abstract

The greatest problem in the propagation of human and murine leprosy bacilli in cells in test tubes, is the difficulty in coinciding the rate of growth of the organism and that of the cell. In attempts to overcome this, the optimum temperature for adequte growth and prolonged viability of the cell and the best time to inoculate the cell with bacteria without interfering with its growth were examined.
As shown in Fig. 1, the optimal temperature was 33°C and the best time for inoculation was 2-3 days after separation of the cells as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The phagocytic activity of the L cell and bacterial proliferation were shown in photograms.