Possible presence of a capsule in Branhamella catarrhalis.
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.
Ahmed
K
K
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University.
Rikitomi
N
N
Ichinose
A
A
Matsumoto
K
K
D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial