Characterization of Mycobacterium leprae by lipid analysis.
The lipid composition of the leprosy bacillus, harvested from experimentally infected nine-banded armadillos, strongly supports it status as a distinct species of the genus Mycobacterium. Phthiocerol dimycocerosate waxes and glycosylated phenophthiocerol dimycocerosates are distinct from those characterised from a number of other mycobacteria. The polar lipids of a single isolate lack diacylated forms of phosphatidylinositol di- and pentamannosides, lipids usually found in most mycobacteria. A simple mycolic acid pattern composed of alpha-mycolates and ketomycolates is characteristic of most preparations of M. leprae.
D000818:Animals; D001135:Armadillos / Q000382:microbiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000032:analysis*; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000032:analysis
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D009171:Mycolic Acids; C008901:phthiocerol dimycocerosate