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Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy As Tools for the Study of Phagocytosis of Bacteria Adherent to Hard Surfaces
Author(s) -
Leake Eva S.,
Gristina Anthony G.,
Wright Mary J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.35.5.527
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , bacteria , transmission electron microscopy , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , intracellular , scanning electron microscope , electron microscope , escherichia coli , intracellular parasite , biophysics , polyethylene , materials science , nanotechnology , biochemistry , composite material , genetics , physics , optics , gene
A technique for studying the phagocytosis of bacteria colonizing hard surfaces is described. Rabbit peritoneal macrophages were allowed to settle on the surface of high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene which had been previously colonized by Escherichia coli. To ascertain the presence of bacteria on the surface of the polyethylene and the degree of spreading of the attached macrophages, the preparations were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The ingestion of E. coli by the macrophages was studied by transmission electron microscopy on ultrathin sections of resin‐embedded monolayers after their separation from the polyethylene surface. Numerous intracellular bacteria were located near the area of attachment of the macrophages to the substrata, suggesting that the phagocytosis of bacteria adherent to the surface of the plastic had taken place.