Possible role of tuberculosis infection in tumor development

Abstract

Cell wall deficient (CWD) mycobacteria of tuberculosis is isolated from culture of cells of cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa). The isolate exhibited «immortality» and restored bacterial form after chemical inactivation, ultrasonic destruction, removal of detritus and molecules larger than 100 kDa and 3 kDa, giving growth of cells almost not different not only from initial cells, but also from CWD M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Isolates were sensitive only to fluoroquinolones, did not cause obvious disease in guinea pigs, but induced development in organs of microgranulems with acidfast grains. It is suggested that mycobacteria of tuberculosis by infecting cells, can persistance in them in an unusual form, possibly integrating fragments of genome into the host DNA and under certain conditions, turning them into cancer at the expense of their unusual properties.