Lepra e tuberculose

Abstract

Highly purified suspensions of My cobacterium leprae show a progressive increase in incorporation of [3Hlthymidine and [3HI DOPA in short-term cultures as shown by scintillation counting. The intact bacilli are known to have a high permeability barrier. The experiments described suggest that [3HI DOPA becomes trapped within this barrier and oxidized inside the bacilli. Tests by pre-treatment with diethyl dithiocarbamate (DOe inhibitor of D OPA), cold DOPA or hyaluronidase distinguish the uptake of [3HI DOPA by bacilli from the effects of connective tissue contamina­ tion. Similar increases in labelling of bacilli by scintillation counting of cultures, have been observed by autoradiography of the organisms. The scintillation method shows promise for rapidly identifying drug resistance in lepromatous patients relapsing while on treatment with dapsone (DOS), rifampicin, c10fazimine or other anti-Ieprosy drugs.