Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
Published on: February 17, 2014
BACTERIUM GRANULOSIS IN RELATION TO TRACHOMA: ITS RECOVERY FROM EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MONKEYS AND FROM HUMAN
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
Abstract:
One of the strains of Bacterium granulosis isolated by Noguchi in 1926 has been maintained in culture and in monkeys and continues to be capable, after 3 years, of inducing a chronic granular conjunctivitis in monkeys. Cultures of this strain have been recovered from the monkey lesions as late as 3 years after inoculation and have been shown to reproduce the granular disease in monkeys. Six additional strains of Bacterium granulosis have been isolated from cases of trachoma occurring in the Indian schools of Arizona. The cultures thus obtained are identical morphologically and culturally with those isolated by Noguchi and have induced the same chronic granular conjunctivitis in monkeys. Advanced untreated cases are more favorable for cultural study than treated cases. Cultures of Bacterium granulosis kept on semisolid medium containing 10 per cent rabbit serum ("leptospira medium") remain viable for many months at room temperature, and sealed ampoules of such cultures have been found to retain their pathogenicity for the monkey conjunctiva for at least 69 days at room temperature and at least 284 days at 4 degrees to 6 degrees C. Several additional cultural and biological characteristics of Bacterium granulosis have been described. Of outstanding importance is the fact that cocaine, in contradistinction to novocain, has a bactericidal effect on the organism. This fact, in view of the common use of cocaine for anesthesia, may explain the negative results of cultivation experiments reported by some workers.
Insights
Bacterium granulosis causes chronic conjunctivitis in monkeys for years. New strains from trachoma cases are identical and induce similar symptoms, with cocaine showing bactericidal effects.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bacterium granulosis, isolated by Noguchi in 1926, causes chronic granular conjunctivitis.
- Trachoma is a significant cause of preventable blindness globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the viability and pathogenicity of Bacterium granulosis strains.
- To characterize new isolates of Bacterium granulosis from trachoma cases.
- To explore factors influencing bacterial cultivation and viability.
Main Methods:
- Maintaining a 1926 strain of Bacterium granulosis in culture and monkeys for 3 years.
- Isolating and culturing new strains from trachoma patients.
- Assessing bacterial viability and pathogenicity under different storage conditions.
- Testing the effect of cocaine and novocaine on Bacterium granulosis.
Main Results:
- The original strain remained capable of inducing conjunctivitis in monkeys after 3 years.
- Six new strains isolated from trachoma cases were morphologically and culturally identical to Noguchi's strain.
- Bacterium granulosis cultures remained viable for months at room temperature and retained pathogenicity for extended periods at refrigeration temperatures.
- Cocaine demonstrated a bactericidal effect on Bacterium granulosis, unlike novocaine.
Conclusions:
- Bacterium granulosis can maintain pathogenicity for extended periods in culture and animal models.
- New strains of Bacterium granulosis from trachoma cases are consistent with historical isolates.
- Cocaine's bactericidal properties may explain previous difficulties in cultivating Bacterium granulosis.
