Abstract
Summary
A comparative study of the im-munogenic properties of in vivo and in vitro grown M. tuberculosis of the same strain H37Rv has corroborated and reinforced the hypothesis that a wide biological range of significant differences exists between the two types. The in vivo grown organism, regardless of mode of vaccine preparation, consistently exhibited a deficient immunizing capacity against acute tuberculous infection in mice, in comparison to the corresponding preparations of the in vitro grown organism. Furthermore, the in vivo grown bacillus exhibits a lesser potential for both inducing and eliciting the delayed hypersensitive state in experimental animals. Several hypotheses are suggested to account for these differences.
The author gratefully acknowledges the generous technical advice given by Dr. Alfred J. Crowle and the technical assistance of Miss Joyce Hill and Mr. Donald Kunkel.
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