Experimental Lepromatous Leprosy

New Prospects for the Study of Leprosy in the Laboratory

“…4) and the histology of the lesions replicates that seen in patients with lepromatous or borderline type leprosy (Fig. 5) (Rees & Weddell, 1968;Rees et al, 1967). Thus there is heavy infection of the peripheral nerves in the skin sites referred to (Fig.…”

“…leprae It has now been established (Rees, 1965a(Rees, , 1965bRees & Weddell, 1968;Rees et al, 1967) and confirmed (Gaugas, 1967;Shepard & Congdon, 1968) that when the immunological capacity of mice is. reduced by thymectomy plus irradiation (with 900 r), Myco.…”

“…Moreover, similarly treated mice become heavily infected in specific sites when inoculated intravenously with Myco. leprae (Rees & Weddell, 1968;Rees et al, 1967). Although, in these animals, the generation time is not reduced, the bacilli, continue to multiply for a longer period.…”

“…leprae in the enhanced infec- tions that were used in normal animals and have included testing the sensitivity of the organisms to diaminodiphenylsulfone (Rees & Weddell, 1968;Rees et al, 1967) and the production of lepromin (Draper, Rees & Waters, 1968). In addition to the higher yields of bacilli from such animals it has been shown that later in the infection there is frequently nodular swelling of the foot pads (Fig.…”

Analysis of idiotypes expressed by anti-mycobacterial mouse monoclonal antibodies using rabbit antisera

“…While the mechanisms are not fully understood, it is likely that the defect is antigen specific since most patients are not generally immunocompromised. Interest has fo cused on the T cell-macrophage inter-relationship since these cells were shown to be respon sible for protection in mouse models of infection with tubercle bacilli and M. leprae (1,2).…”