Elucidation of the phagocytosis mechanism with the aid of luminous bacteria.
Phagocytosis of the luminous bacterium Vibrio cholerae var. albensis caused a similar decrease both in viable count and in the in-vivo luminescence. These effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) were oxygen-dependent processes. Exposure of PMN to oxygen caused a prompt decrease in the luminescence of bacteria that had been ingested in anaerobic conditions. Cell-free supernates from active PMN suspensions caused a decrease in luminescence and as much as 10% of the killing could be attributed to extracellular killing. Similarly, bacteria entrapped on a membrane filter showed a decrease in luminescence upon addition of active PMN, even though they could not be ingested.
D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000276:immunology*