Penetration of endothelial cell monolayers by Borrelia burgdorferi.
The ability of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, to penetrate cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers was investigated. After 4 h of coincubation, approximately 7.7% of added bacteria passed through the host cell monolayers. Electron microscopy revealed that the borreliae entered the endothelial cells and suggested that the organisms penetrated the host monolayers primarily by passing through them.
Comstock
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.
Thomas
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D001898:Borrelia / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron