Abstract
Summary
1) Mycobacteria were broken open by vibration with glass beads. Ninety to 95% of the protoplasm, and 70-80% of the bacterial mass was released into a soluble state and could be separated by centrifugation from the sediment (disrupted bacilli), which consisted largely of cell walls. 2) Intact bacilli of the 5 more slowly growing species studied were not stainable with fluorescent antibody, but disrupted bacilli stained brightly. This was interpreted as evidence that the outer surfaces of intact bacilli of these species are free of antigen. 3) Intact bacilli of 3 of the more rapidly growing species stained well. 4) The soluble fraction contained the greatest amount of antigen as judged by ability to inhibit staining of the disrupted bacilli. It could be used to absorb (inhibit) cross-reacting antibodies to render immune sera more specific in their staining of disrupted organisms. 5) The soluble fraction was a potent antigen in agar diffusion tests. In complement fixation tests it was also an effective antigen with helpful specificity.
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