Pathogenicity of the Tubercle Bacillus.

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Abstract
In the course of an investigation of the Boivin type of antigenic complex derived from the human strain (H37Rr) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its possible role in inducing protective immunity, the lyophilized complexes were found to harbor small numbers of viable tubercle bacilli despite the ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration procedures employed in the course of their prepn. The presence of these few bacilli, which had been subjected to drying in acetone and various chemical manipulations involved in preparing the complexes, resulted in progressive tuberculosis in guinea pigs injd. with the complexes. The total disease picture in these animals was more advanced than in guinea pigs receiving massive doses of acetone-dried bacilli without complex. It is suggested that the complex may function as a virulence factor for this organism.

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