Correlation between pathogenicity of Shigella and intraperitoneal survival in mice.
Phagocytosis of virulent and avirulent strains of Shigella and Escherichia coli in the mouse peritoneum was studied. A direct correlation between bacterial virulence and resistance to phagocytosis by peritoneal phagocytes was demonstrated. Virulent strains were less readily cleared and were able to multiply to a limited extent within the peritoneal cavity. An epimerase-deficient, rough mutant of S. flexneri 2a was highly susceptible to phagocytosis. Restoration of the cell wall structure in these mutants resulted in a significant increase in their resistance to phagocytosis. Susceptibility to phagocytosis in smooth S. flexneri was age-dependent. Cells from 16-hr cultures were more resistant to removal from the peritoneum than were cells from 48- and 72-hr cultures.
Department of Microbiology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59801.
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Nakamura
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Jackson
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