Viability of M. leprae while undergoing laboratory procedures

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Experimental Pathology

Background:

• Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is the causative agent of leprosy.
• Accurate assessment of M. leprae viability and infectivity is essential for leprosy research.
• Standardized experimental procedures are necessary to ensure reliable results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different storage conditions and experimental methodologies on M. leprae viability.
• To determine the optimal conditions for maintaining M. leprae infectivity for research purposes.

Main Methods:

• Mouse foot-pad experiments were conducted to assess M. leprae survival.
• Viability was tested under various temperature conditions (37°C, 20-30°C, +4°C).
• Effects of lyophilization, repeated temperature fluctuations, disinfectants, UV light, and centrifugation were examined.

Main Results:

• M. leprae survived for 1 day at 37°C, 7 days at 20-30°C, and 90 days when lyophilized.
• Refrigerated M. leprae showed reduced survival with repeated daily exposure to room temperature (5 days) compared to single exposure (14 days).
• M. leprae lost infectivity within 30 minutes when exposed to disinfectants and UV light; high-speed centrifugation did not affect viability.

Conclusions:

• Storage temperature and exposure to room temperature significantly influence M. leprae viability.
• Lyophilization offers a long-term preservation method for M. leprae.
• Disinfectants and UV light rapidly inactivate M. leprae, while centrifugation is a safe manipulation technique.