An ultrastructural demonstration of the agent of Legionnaires' disease in the human lung.
The authors have provided ultrastructural demonstration from human material of a small rod shaped organism that represents the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease. The organisms are found mainly in intracytoplasmic vacuoles of alveolar cells. They have a thin outer cell wall and a more delicate plasma membrane. On the basis of morphology, arguments are presented to classify these unusual organisms as rickettsia-like.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000382:microbiology*; D012281:Rickettsia; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure