title: Effect of low-level and intermittent minocycline therapy on the growth of Mycobacterium leprae in mice.
abstract: We evaluated the minimal concentrations of minocycline in the diet and in serum required to inhibit the growth of seven Mycobacterium leprae isolates in mice. Minocycline concentrations of 0.01 and 0.04% in the diet, which resulted in levels in serum of less than or equal to 0.17 and 0.51 microgram/ml, respectively, were consistently and completely inhibitory. Even 0.004% dietary minocycline (levels in serum, less than or equal to 0.08 microgram/ml) partially inhibited five of these strains, while 0.001% minocycline was consistently inactive. For five of these isolates, minocycline at a concentration of 0.04% in the diet given 3 days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and 1 day weekly completely inhibited the growth of M. leprae, and minocycline given even 1 day monthly was partially inhibitory for three of these five M. leprae isolates.
authors.affiliation: Kuzell Institute for Arthritis and Infectious Diseases, Medical Research Institute of San Francisco, California 94115-1896.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alley
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D008911:Minocycline