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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1974 September; 28(3): 452-455
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Radiometric Measurement of Metabolic Activity of Mycobacterium lepraemurium

Division of Nuclear Medicine and Johns Hopkins-Leonard Wood Memorial Leprosy Research Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

ABSTRACT

A sensitive and nondestructive radiometric method has been applied to the detection of metabolism of Mycobacterium lepraemurium, as a model for the study of the metabolism and substrate requirements of M. leprae. The method is based on the measurement of the ¹⁴CO₂ produced through the bacterial conversion of [U-¹⁴C]acetate or [U-¹⁴C]glycerol by 7 x 10⁹ bacteria suspended in 10 ml of either a simple buffer system (K-36) or a complex medium (NC-5). Metabolism of the bacilli was easily detected within 3 days after inoculation and was measured daily. NC-5 medium supported metabolism of M. lepraemurium for several weeks longer than the simple K-36 buffer. The radiometric technique shows promise as a rapid and efficient system for evaluating the metabolism of mycobacteria without introducing any changes in the physiologic state of the organisms, studying their metabolic pathways, determining conditions potentially favorable for multiplication of these organisms in vitro, and studying their susceptibility to inhibition by drugs.