Heat stability of Mycobacterium leprae immunogenicity.

The protection provided to mice by vaccines administered intradermally was measured after footpad challenge with Mycobacterium leprae. The protection offered by M. leprae suspensions was not decreased when the vaccines were killed by 60 degrees C heat or at the higher temperatures tested, which included 215 degrees C (autoclave). Even highly purified suspensions retained their immunogenicity. In contrast, the vaccine protection provided by intradermal M. bovis (strain BCG) was markedly reduced when heated to 60 degrees C. The enlargement of the lymph nodes regional to the intradermal vaccines was measured and found generally to parallel the vaccine protection provided by M. leprae and by BCG.