title: Characterization of an axenic strain of Hartmannella vermiformis obtained from an investigation of nosocomial legionellosis.
abstract: A free-living amoeba identified as Hartmannella vermiformis was isolated from a water sample obtained during an investigation of nosocomial legionellosis. Hartmannella vermiformis is known to support the intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila. This strain of H. vermiformis, designated CDC-19, was cloned and established in axenic culture to develop a model for the study of the pathogenicity of legionellae. Isoenzyme patterns of axenically-cultivated strain CDC-19 were compared with two strains of H. vermiformis derived from the type strain, one axenic (ATCC 50236) and the other grown in the presence of bacteria (ATCC 30966). Enzyme patterns suggested that all three strains are assignable to the species H. vermiformis. Axenic H. vermiformis strain CDC-19 has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 50237) and should prove useful in the study of protozoan-bacterial interaction.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Nerad
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barbaree
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Morrill
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Sanden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006249:Hartmannella / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000382:microbiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D007876:Legionellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes