Innate resistance to tuberculosis: revisiting Max Lurie genetic experiments in rabbits

Experimental inoculation of tubercle bacilli does not correspond to natural contagion. The classic and unique study published in the literature, performed by Max Lurie with inbred rabbit families to evaluate resistance and susceptibility to tuberculosis, closely simulated the natural mode of infection, reproducing the varying types of the disease as it occurs in man. Lurie observed that resistant families developed cavitary tuberculosis and susceptible families developed disseminated tuberculosis. The conclusions were based only on resistance to the progress of tuberculous infection due to cellular-mediated immunity. In this report we have made an additional analysis of this experiment, looking for the resistance to infection itself.