title: Characterization of W-Beijing isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the Western Cape.
abstract: The purpose of this simple study was to characterize a panel of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis obtained from the Western Cape region of South Africa where new clinical vaccine trials are beginning, in the low dose aerosol guinea pig infection model. Most of the strains tested grew well in the lungs and other organs of these animals, and in most cases gave rise to moderate to very severe lung damage. We further observed that the current BCG vaccine was highly protective against two randomly selected strains, giving rise to significantly prolonged survival.
authors.affiliation: Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA. Electronic address: crystal.shanley@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Crystal A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Shanley
authors.forename: Elizma M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Streicher
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Orme
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058889:Molecular Typing; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013019:South Africa; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C105078:RNA polymerase beta subunit
keywords: BCG vaccination; Clinical strains; Guinea pig; Tuberculosis