Biomaterial Database

Formation of antibody against Mycobacterium leprae antigen 7 in armadillos. 1978

M Harboe, and O Closs, and R J Rees, and G P Walsh

A radioimmunoassay developed to measure antibody against Mycobacterium leprae antigen 7 in man was applied to the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Normal armadillo sera had low but significant antibody activity in the test. Fourteen of 17 armadillos with systemic mycobacterial infection after inoculation with M. leprae showed increased antibody activity in the assay, and in some instances the activity was higher than in a pool of sera from patients with lepromatous leprosy. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis with armadillo serum in the intermediate gel revealed antibodies against five distinct antigenic components of M. leprae. Development of systemic mycobacterial infection after inoculation with M. leprae is thus associated with a distinct humoral immune response. The use of radioimmunosassay for selection of animals for inoculation and for following the development of the infection is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007918	Leprosy	A chronic granulomatous infection caused by MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAE. The granulomatous lesions are manifested in the skin, the mucous membranes, and the peripheral nerves. Two polar or principal types are lepromatous and tuberculoid.	Hansen's Disease,Hansen Disease
D009166	Mycobacterium leprae	A species of gram-positive, aerobic bacteria that causes LEPROSY in man. Its organisms are generally arranged in clumps, rounded masses, or in groups of bacilli side by side.
D011863	Radioimmunoassay	Classic quantitative assay for detection of antigen-antibody reactions using a radioactively labeled substance (radioligand) either directly or indirectly to measure the binding of the unlabeled substance to a specific antibody or other receptor system. Non-immunogenic substances (e.g., haptens) can be measured if coupled to larger carrier proteins (e.g., bovine gamma-globulin or human serum albumin) capable of inducing antibody formation.	Radioimmunoassays
D004490	Xenarthra	A superorder of New World mammals characterized by the absence of incisors and canines from among their teeth, and comprising the ARMADILLOS and the SLOTHS. The superorder is distinguished from all others by what are known as xenarthrous vertebrae (xenos, strange; arthron, joint): there are secondary, and sometimes even more, articulations between the vertebrae of the lumbar series. The superorder in part was formerly called Edentata. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed; Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, vol. I, p515)	Cingulata,Edentata
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000907	Antibodies, Bacterial	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS.	Bacterial Antibodies
D000942	Antigens, Bacterial	Substances elaborated by bacteria that have antigenic activity.	Bacterial Antigen,Bacterial Antigens,Antigen, Bacterial
D001135	Armadillos	Burrowing, chiefly nocturnal mammals of the family Dasypodidae having bodies and heads encased in small bony plates. They are widely distributed in the warmer parts of the Americas.	Armadillo