MAINTENANCE OF INFECTIVITY OF MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAEMURIUM FOR TEN YEARS BY LYOPHILIZATION

Abstract

Since murine leprosy bacilli are obligate intracellular parasites, they have been preserved in vivo by inoculating into rats or mice. However, in previous papers (1, 2.), the investigations in which the infectious activity of Mycobacterium had been maintained in vitro for about five years by means of lyophilization were described. In the present communication, an additional data obtained in the experiment in which the infective activity of the bacilli could be maintained in vitro for ten years by lyophilization is reported.