INDUCTION OF DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY TO MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE IN HEALTHY-INDIVIDUALS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (3) , 501-506
Abstract
Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to a soluble M. leprae skin test antigen (SML) was successfully induced in healthy volunteers following immunization with 2 .times. 108 killed armadillo-derived M. leprae. No better sensitization was obtained by a mixture of live BCG and killed M. leprae. The relative specificity of the DTH reaction to SML was demonstrated, since little cross-reactivity was observed to purified protein derivative, after immunization with BCG or M. leprae alone, or combined. Armadillo-derived M. leprae readily induced a specific hypersensitivity with the time course DTH response associated with protective immunity; this bacterial preparation may be a candidate for an effective anti-leprosy vaccine.