title: Mycobacterium leprae surface components intervene in the early phagosome-lysosome fusion inhibition event.
abstract: Bone marrow-derived cultured macrophages were infected with Mycobacterium leprae. The bacteria were either used as freshly isolated organisms or incubated with M. leprae antiserum (1:5) for 30 min prior to phagocytosis. Immediately after inoculation (1 to 4 h) and at 1 to 8 days later, macrophages were stained for acid phosphatase activity to assess fusions between phagosomes and lysosomes. Inhibition of fusions was essentially apparent as an early event, which was partially reversed by antiserum treatment of the bacteria, suggesting a role for M. leprae immunogenic surface components in this early phenomenon. Later incubation times (1 to 8 days) did not show any considerable difference between antiserum-treated and nontreated bacteria. The formation of an electron-transparent zone around phagocytized bacteria and its role in phagosome-lysosome fusion was investigated, and a direct relationship could not be established.
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frehel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rastogi
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000502:physiology*; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000135:Acid Phosphatase