Open AccessSimultaneous measurement by flow cytometry of phagocytosis and metabolic burst induced in phagocytic cells in whole blood by Borrelia burgdorferi
Author(s) -
Cinco Marina,
Murgia Rosella,
Perticarari Sandra,
Presani Gianni
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb07163.x
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , borrelia burgdorferi , antibody opsonization , microbiology and biotechnology , flow cytometry , biology , respiratory burst , staphylococcus aureus , borrelia , opsonin , whole blood , bacteria , immunology , antibody , genetics
This paper describes the interactions between a strain of Borrelia burgdorferi and phagocytic cells, measured in whole blood, by a two‐color flow cytometric method, which allowed the simultaneous quantification of both the phagocytosis rate and the oxidative burst activation. The data obtained indicated that: a) phagocytosis and metabolic activation increased as a function of spirochete concentration; b) the number of ingesting cells peaked within 10 min but activation followed later, and did not involve all the phagocytosing cells; c) opsonization of borreliae with a patient's serum enhanced the two cellular activities, mostly phagocytosis. The intensity of such functions was lower than those found for Staphylococcus aureus . The flow cytometric assay of phagocytosis interactions with Borrelia burgdorferi assessed in whole blood represents an experimental approach which simulates the physiological conditions in nature.