Optimized Protocols for Mycobacterium leprae Strain Management: Frozen Stock Preservation and Maintenance in Athymic Nude MiceAna Paula Fávaro Trombone 1, Sílvia Cristina Barbosa Pedrini 2, Suzana Madeira Diório 3, Andréa de Faria Fernandes Belone 1, Luciana Raquel Vicenzi Fachin 1, Dejair Caitano do Nascimento 4, Patricia Sammarco Rosa 2
1Department of Pathology, Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL), 2Laboratory Animal House, Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL), 3Department of Microbiology, Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL), 4Department of Pharmacology, Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL)
Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, does not grow in vitro. We describe an easy to follow protocol to prepare a bacillary suspension to ensure the maintenance of large quantities of M. leprae for a variety of applications. Protocols for propagation by mouse footpad inoculation, evaluation of viability, freezing and thawing bacillary stock are described in detail.
