Identification of Mycobacterium leprae: Use of Wall-bound Mycolic Acids

Abstract

A simple method for extraction and analysis of wall-bound mycolic acids from samples of mycobacteria is described. Separation of mycolic acid classes according to their functional groups by TLC showed a difference between M. leprae and a number of strains of acid-fast bacilli cultured from leprosy biopsies [human] in vitro. This technique is proposed as a convenient preliminary test in the identification of possible cultures of M. leprae.