Open AccessElucidation of the phagocytosis mechanism with the aid of luminous bacteria
Author(s) -
Mira Barak,
S. Ulitzur,
D. Merzbach
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of medical microbiology/journal of medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1473-5644
pISSN - 0022-2615
DOI - 10.1099/00222615-18-1-65
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular , oxygen , vibrio , luminescence , vibrionaceae , bioluminescence , vibrio cholerae , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , materials science , genetics , optoelectronics , organic chemistry
Phagocytosis of the luminous bacterium Vibrio cholerae var. albensis caused a similar decrease both in viable count and in the in-vivo luminescence. These effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) were oxygen-dependent processes. Exposure of PMN to oxygen caused a prompt decrease in the luminescence of bacteria that had been ingested in anaerobic conditions. Cell-free supernates from active PMN suspensions caused a decrease in luminescence and as much as 10% of the killing could be attributed to extracellular killing. Similarly, bacteria entrapped on a membrane filter showed a decrease in luminescence upon addition of active PMN, even though they could not be ingested.