Growth temperature reversibly modulates the virulence of Legionella pneumophila.
In chemostat culture, the virulence of two strains of Legionella pneumophila was shown to be significantly (P < 0.05) reduced when the culture temperature was lowered from 37 to 24 degrees C. This modulation was reversed by returning the temperature to 37 degrees C, which resulted in a statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in virulence.
Mauchline
W S
WS
Division of Pathology, Public Health Laboratory Service Centre for Applied Microbiology & Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.
James
B W
BW
Fitzgeorge
R B
RB
Dennis
P J
PJ
Keevil
C W
CW
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006358:Hot Temperature; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D014774:Virulence