title: In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium leprae to oxygen-mediated damage.
abstract: In order to evaluate factors responsible for the failure of Mycobacterium leprae to multiply in cell-free cultures in vitro studies were undertaken to determine the possible poisoning of the organism by hydroxide and superoxide radicals produced in the growth medium. The superoxide dismutase activity was very low, 10% of the levels found in armadillo cells, while measured activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase was negligible. Susceptibility of M. leprae to hydrogen peroxide was enhanced by potassium iodide but not by lactoperoxidase. The addition of high amounts of catalase completely prevented hydrogen peroxide-mediated killing of M. leprae. Superoxide generated by the action of xanthine oxidase on xanthine was lethal to M. leprae, but superoxide dismutase added to the reaction mixture gave significant protection. Thus superoxide radicals may be a major cause for the sudden termination of growth of M. leprae in primary cultures and also for failure of subcultures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne 32901-6988, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dhople
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001135:Armadillos; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D007784:Lactoperoxidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011193:Potassium Iodide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D013481:Superoxides; D011193:Potassium Iodide; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007784:Lactoperoxidase; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase