title: Extracellular forms of Mycobacterium bovis BCG in the mucosal lymphatic tissues following oral vaccination.
abstract: Oral vaccination with BCG provides protective systemic immunity against pathogenic mycobacterial challenge. In this study, the anatomical distribution of Mycobacterium bovis BCG following oral vaccination was investigated. Replicating bacteria in the Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes were present as solitary rods or clusters of two to three bacteria, the majority of which were isolated ex vivo as extracellular forms. Only a minority were shown to be associated with typical antigen-presenting cells. Acid-fast staining of mast cell granules in lymphoid tissues revealed a potential pitfall for these analyses and may explain previous reports of acid-fast 'coccoid' forms of mycobacteria in tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Wenzel
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Czepluch
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Charlotte L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Everitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorer
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Saunderson
authors.affiliation: Immune Solutions, Centre for Innovation, University of Otago.
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Aldwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: alex.mclellan@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McLellan
keywords: Immune response; Mycobacterium bovis BCG; Oral vaccination