Attempts at Cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae in Cell Culture under Regulation of Redox Potential at Environment

Cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae in cell culture was attempted under lower redox potential by adding such reducing agents as reduced glutathione, DL-cysteine hydrochloride, and dithiothreitol to culture medium, and by reduced oxygen tension varying the depth of medium or applying agar suspension technique. During a five years' period since 1976, a slight increase in the number of acid-fast bacilli at harvests was occasionally observed. However, the viability of bacilli recovered was unable to be proven by the mouse foot pad method. It is uncertain whether lower redox potential at environment is strictly requested for cultivation of M. leprae.