Invasion and intracellular survival of Hafnia alvei strains in human epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the invasion and intracellular survival of different Hafnia alvei strains in HeLa cells.


RESULTS
We performed different experiments on the bacterial invasion of different strains of H. alvei into the HeLa cell line using gentamicin protection assays and immunofluorescence. We also report the time course of cell internalization and the effects of inhibitors on the invasion of H. alvei. Levels of invasion varied depending on the conditions (strain, time and inoculum size) used.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that H. alvei strains were able to enter and persist in a human epithelial cell line.


CONCLUSIONS
Our in vitro findings highlight the possibility that some H. alvei strains may exploit nonprofessional phagocytes or nonphagocytic cells to spread in vivo, which may be important for the persistence and establishment of an asymptomatic carrier state.
Padilla
D
D
Institute of Animal Health IUSA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
Acosta
F
F
Bravo
J
J
Grasso
V
V
Real
F
F
Vivas
J
J
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005839:Gentamicins; D020611:Hafnia alvei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
D005839:Gentamicins; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D015638:Cytochalasin D