Leprosy treatments developed
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The core body temperature of the armadillo is low enough to favour the growth of the leprosy-causing bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. Using the armadillo, scientists were able to develop an experimental vaccine against leprosy, and these unusual South American mammals have helped our understanding and the development of treatments for the disease.
> Research and vaccine development
Research and vaccine development
As this bacterium will not grow in culture, and leprosy does not affect most mammals, the nine-banded armadillo has now become the principle source of M. leprae in research. An experimental leprosy vaccine was developed, which was purified from killed leprae bacteria. WHO hoped that this vaccine would eventually eliminate leprosy altogether.1
The vaccine development programme ran from the 1970’s to the late 1990’s when the BCG vaccine, which is given worldwide to prevent tuberculosis, was shown to be similarly effective against M. Leprae. Although the vaccine programme had eventually proved impractical, studying the purified bacteria had allowed a much greater understanding of leprosy, and enabled new treatments for the disease.1 The study of this bacteria has given leprosy sufferers today a range of treatments and the ability to live a normal life – free from the terrible disfigurements which were previously caused by this disease.
1. Mill Hill essays 2003, Armadillos and leprosy: http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/millhillessays/2003/armadillo/
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Tags
Research Fields: Cell biology, Disease characteristics, Drugs & toxins, Vaccine development(yes - 4 items)Date: 1982 (required)
Scientist(s): NIMR (yes)
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom(yes - 2 items)
Animals Used: Other or unspecified mammals (non-rodent/non-primate), armadillo(yes - 1 items)
Medical Applications: Vaccine, Medicine, Basic research(yes - 3 items)
