Impairment of reactivity to lepromin by mycobacterial antigens related to, or identical with, Mycobacterium leprae.
Three hundred and twenty young children were injected with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) saline, or with one of the mycobacterial cytoplasmic antigens related with Mycobacterium leprae. At an appropriate time thereafter they were tested for dermal hypersensitivity to the antigens and for reactions to lepromin. Whereas all the antigens induced cell-mediated immunity, the incidence and intensity of late response to lepromin were significantly reduced in children preinjected with the cytoplasmic mycobacterial antigens, as contrasted with increased lepromin reactivity in the BCG group and with the findings in saline-injected children.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D007916:Lepromin; D008297:Male; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014611:Vaccination
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007916:Lepromin