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Possible Presence of a Capsule in Branhamella catarrhalis
Author(s) -
Ahmed Kamruddin,
Rikitomi Naoto,
Ichinose Akitoyo,
Matsumoto Keizo
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1991.tb01566.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , biology , capsule , phagocytosis , virulence , bacteria , neisseriaceae , immune system , immunology , biochemistry , botany , genetics , gene , antibiotics
Clinical isolates of Branhamella catarrhalis from patients with respiratory infections were used in this study. Electron microscopic observation after treating Branhamella catarrhalis with immune serum and ruthenium red revealed the capsule. In the phagocytosis test, most organisms were not ingested by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the presence of normal rabbit serum (NRS), while organisms were primarily cell associated and apparently ingested in the presence of immunized rabbit serum (IRS). The capsule may be one of the virulence factors in this bacteria. This study demonstrates the possible presence of a capsule in Branhamella catarrhalis.