Rapid detection of mycobacterial contamination in batches of whole cells of purified Mycobacterium leprae by pyrolysis gas chromatography |
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| Authors: | G. Wieten J.J. Boon D.G. Groothuis F. Portaels D.E. Minnikin |
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| Affiliation: | FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Rijks Instituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieuhygiene, Anthonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 1, 1023 AM Bilthoven, The Netherlands;Prins Leopold Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, Nationalestraat 115, Antwerp, Belgium;Department of Organic Chemistry, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Preparations of Mycobacterium leprae , purified from host animal tissues, were screened by pyrolysis high-resolution gas-chromatographic analysis (Py-GC) for the presence of (myco)bacterial contaminants, which produce wax-ester mycolates. Contamination levels as low as 5% of the total number of acid-fast bacilli could be detected, based on the presence or absence of the marker compounds: a series of isomeric alkenes. The on-line pyrolysis capillary GC method provides an easy procedure for rapid quality control of preparations of purified M. leprae . |
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| Keywords: | High-resolution gas chromatography mycobacteria fatty acids was ester mycolates quality control |
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