%A Pessolani MCV %A Hunter SW %A Brennan PJ %T Relationship between host histones and armadillo-derived Mycobacterium leprae %0 Journal Article %D 1993 %J International Journal of Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases %P 0148-916X %V 61 %N 3 %X A major protein previously recognized as being primarily associated with the cell walls of Mycobacterium leprae, major wall protein (MWP), is now identified as histoprotein H2b based on N-terminal amino-acid sequencing, electrophoretic comparisons, and several other properties. An avid association between several host/armadilloderived histones and M. leprae was demonstrated. Since such armadillo-derived M. leprae are the basis of several ongoing vaccine trials, a simple procedure that permits the prompt solubilization and quantification of histones in M. leprae preparations is described. The quantity of histones associated with M. leprae is significant, ranging f rom 0.6 to 4.8 µg of histoprotein H2b per mg of bacteria.