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A study on viability of mycobacteria after treating them with complement system.
O Parkash1, V D Ramanathan, A Mukherjee
1Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy, Agra, India.
Acta Leprologica
|January 1, 1992
Summary
The complement system does not kill mycobacteria (Mycobacterium vaccae and Mycobacterium bovis-BCG). Even with antibody treatment, complement showed no effect on mycobacterial viability or cell structure.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- The complement system is a crucial part of innate immunity.
- Mycobacteria are known for their resistance to immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of the complement system on the viability of mycobacteria.
- To determine if antibodies enhance complement-mediated killing of mycobacteria.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 3H-uracil uptake method to assess mycobacterial viability.
- Employed electron microscopy to examine cellular ultrastructure after complement treatment.
- Tested the effect of antimycobacterial antibodies in conjunction with complement.
Main Results:
- The complement system demonstrated no killing effect on Mycobacterium vaccae or Mycobacterium bovis-BCG.
- Pretreatment with antimycobacterial antibodies did not render mycobacteria susceptible to complement.
- Electron microscopy confirmed the absence of ultrastructural damage indicative of cell destruction.
Conclusions:
- Mycobacteria exhibit resistance to complement-mediated lysis.
- Antibody opsonization does not sensitize these mycobacteria to complement-dependent killing.
- The complement system is not a significant factor in the direct elimination of these mycobacterial species.