title: Virulence, biochemistry, morphology and host-interacting properties of detergent-free cultured mycobacteria: An update.
abstract: The culturing of mycobacteria is a standard procedure that is consistent world-wide, with little variation in the growth media constituents, particularly those found in liquid and solid media. Before the 1940s however, the aggregating nature of mycobacteria as well as the characteristic slow growth-rate saw mycobacterial research delay considerably. Dubos and colleagues addressed both these issues and observed that a very small volume of Tween detergent was sufficient to greatly improve the culturing of mycobacteria. Over the years however, evidence of the unfavourable effects of this detergent on a number of morphological, biochemical, pathogenic and host-interacting properties of mycobacteria surfaced. For the first time we bring together literature, past and present to comprehensively review the mycobacterial properties which are, and are not affected by the use of this detergent. We also address other detergents and methods which may circumvent the need to include Tween compounds in mycobacterial culture media.
authors.affiliation: DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SA MRC Centre for TB Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Electronic address: ginal@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leisching
authors.affiliation: DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SA MRC Centre for TB Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
authors.forename: R-D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Pietersen
authors.affiliation: DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SA MRC Centre for TB Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wiid
authors.affiliation: DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SA MRC Centre for TB Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D003902:Detergents
keywords: Culturing; Detergents; Host response; Mycobacteria; Tween; Virulence