Phagocytic and serum killing of capsulate and non-capsulate Bacteroides fragilis.
The relative susceptibilities of capsulate and non- capsulate variants of Bacteroides fragilis to serum and phagocytic killing were investigated. The capsule of B. fragilis did not confer resistance to serum killing. Phagocytic killing of non- capsulate B. fragilis occurred at bacterial concentrations of 1 X 10(6) and 1 X 10(7) cfu/ml. Capsulate B. fragilis organisms were also phagocytosed and killed at a concentration of 1 X 10(6) cfu/ml, but phagocytosis and killing were impaired at a concentration of 1 X 10(7) cfu/ml.
D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial