Open AccessApplication of flow cytometry to the study of antiphagocytic properties of Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide
Author(s) -
Ruiz C.,
Sabio J.M.,
Santos J.L.,
Montes M.J.,
Garcia Olivares E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1993.tb00382.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , klebsiella pneumoniae , phagocytosis , polysaccharide , flow cytometry , biology , bacterial capsule , bacteria , klebsiella , immunology , escherichia coli , biochemistry , genetics , virulence , gene
We used flow cytometry to compare the effects of whole cells and capsular polysaccharides of Klebsiella pneumoniae on the phagocytic ability ot polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Our results showed a light descrease in phagocytic activity in the presence of capsular polysaccharides, but a marked decrease with whole cells. Our findings suggest that the resistance to phagocytosis in these microorganisms is not due exclusively to their capsule, as claimed by other authors.