[Characteristics of the filterable forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their significance in pathology]

The results of the present investigation indicate that antituberculosis therapy for a period of 6 months leads to qualitative changes in M. tuberculosis population. This is manifested by the appearance of the filterable forms of M. tuberculosis in pathological material. At the same time these forms retain the initial pathogenicity of M. tuberculosis and induce not only tuberculous, but also nonspecific inflammation. Among the population of these filterable forms organisms carrying the genetic information of the species and capable of replication processes have been detected.