Adherence of Mycobacterium leprae to Schwann cells in vitro.

Adherence of Mycobacterium leprae was studied in vitro in monolayer cultures of purified mouse Schwann cells. The optimum temperature and time for adherence were determined. Pretreatment of Schwann cells with lipase reduced adherence, but pretreatment with trypsin enhanced it and with four monosaccharides--L-arabinose, L-galactose, L-rhamnose and D-glucose--there was no significant effect, indicating that the receptors involved in adherence may be lipid.