Microtiter plate assay for selecting "macrophage virulent" strains of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare mycobacteria in mouse pulmonary alveolar macrophages.
Currently used macrophage-mycobacterial in vitro infection models require substantial numbers of macrophages. We developed a miniaturized version of such a model, using microtiter plates, which is comparable to standardly published methods, is reproducible, and requires fewer macrophages. In addition to its ease of handling and its economy in time, number of animals, and supplies, this method is preferable when limited numbers of macrophages are available. We have used this assay as a means of selecting human derived isolates from patients with M. avium intracellulare pulmonary disease for their ability to infect and multiply in cultured mouse pulmonary alveolar macrophages.
Straub
L
L
Pulmonary Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL.
Thomas
D
D
Gonzalez-Rothi
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence