Infection of cultured human endothelial cells by Legionella pneumophila.
Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative pathogen that causes a severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that L. pneumophila infects and grows within cultured human endothelial cells. Endothelial infection may contribute to lung damage observed during Legionnaires' disease and to systemic spread of this organism.
Chiaraviglio
Lucius
L
Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer Biology and Angiogenesis, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Brown
Daniel A
DA
Kirby
James E
JE
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure