Assessment of Dharmendra antigen. (V) attempts for purification of specific skin delayed hypersensitivity (DH) inducing antigen (S) from lepromin.

After electrophoresis (in pyrogen-free conditions) of Dharmendra antigen sonicates on agarose gel slides, the components (anionic and cationic) were eluted in pyrogen-free normal saline. On skin testing, it was found that only anionic component produced specific skin DH reactions in tuberculoid leprosy patients. The significance of the observations is discussed.