title: Identification of Mycobacterium leprae: use of wall-bound mycolic acids.
abstract: A simple method for extraction and analysis of wall-bound mycolic acids from small samples of mycobacteria is described. Separation of mycolic acid classes according to their functional groups by thin-layer chromatography showed a difference between Mycobacterium leprae and a number of strains of acid-fast bacilli cultured from leprosy biopsies in vitro. This technique is proposed as a convenient preliminary test in the identification of possible cultures of M. leprae.
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D009171:Mycolic Acids