Scanning and transmission electron microscopy as tools for the study of phagocytosis of bacteria adherent to hard surfaces.
A technique for studying the phagocytosis of bacteria colonizing hard surfaces is described. Rabbit peritoneal macrophages were allowed to settle on the surface of high-molecular-weight polyethylene which had been previously colonized by Escherichia coli. To ascertain the presence of bacteria on the surface of the polyethylene and the degree of spreading of the attached macrophages, the preparations were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The ingestion of E. coli by the macrophages was studied by transmission electron microscopy on ultrathin sections of resin-embedded monolayers after their separation from the polyethylene surface. Numerous intracellular bacteria were located near the area of attachment of the macrophages to the substrata, suggesting that the phagocytosis of bacteria adherent to the surface of the plastic had taken place.
D000818:Animals; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011817:Rabbits