Occurrence of antigen BCG 60 in leprosy derived corynebacteria and other coryneforms.

Previous studies have shown that anti BCG 60 monoclonal antibody could recognize major antigen A 7 of M. leprae. In the present investigation we attempted to search the presence of the same antigen from the strains of Leprosy Derived Corynebacteria (LDC+), which were isolated from leprosy lesions and were supposed to be the cultivable form of the leprosy bacillus. A comparative study was equally performed on 7 strains of Corynebacteria which were isolated in France and had no relation with leprosy patients (LDC-). Utilizing the ELISA technique with an anti BCG 60 monoclonal antibody, it was found that all the three LDC+ strains contained an antigenic determinant common to M. leprae, however no LDC+ specificity was found as this antigenic determinant was also revealed on two LDC- strains.