[Survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae O139 inside Acanthamoeba].
OBJECTIVE
To study the survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae inside the Acanthamoeba polyphage.


METHODS
Survival and growth of Vibro cholerae O139, co-cultured with Acanthamoeba polyphaga, was observed inside the trophozoites and cysts, using Gram stain and electron microscope.


RESULTS
Viable O139 was observed inside the amoebal vacuoles in 24 hours. Vacuoles were filled with more bacteria along with the longer period of co-culture. The process of O139 infection with Amoebae would include uptake, formation of O139 vacuole, multiplication, trophozoites lysed and expel under electron microscopy. Some infected trophozoites could subsequently encyst and the surviving O139 could locate in the vesicles inside the cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
O139 might survive and multiply in the trophozoites and reside inside the cysts of Amoebae, suggesting that Acanthamoebae might serve as one of the environmental hosts of Vibro cholerae.
Jiang
Qing-wu
QW
School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. qwjiang@shmu.edu.cn
Li
Qin-xue
QX
Chen
Zheng
Z
Shen
Jie
J
Zhong
Pei-song
PS
Zhang
Xin
X
Tan
Jia-di
JD
Shao
Yue-qin
YQ
Li
Zi-hua
ZH
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D041242:Vibrio cholerae O139 / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology
D003470:Culture Media; D014867:Water