Differentiation of TRIC and LGV Organisms Based on Enhancement of Infectivity by DEAE-Dextran in Cell Culture

Abstract

Pretreatment of HeLa-229 cell monolayers by washing with DEAE-dextran (30 μg/ml) before inoculation of the trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis (TRIC) agent resulted in enhanced infectivity, as shown by a 10-fold or greater increase in the number of inclusions and a two- to three-log greater infectivity. The infectivity for cell cultures of the morphologically and immunologically closely related lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) organisms was not enhanced by treatment with DEAE-dextran. This effect provides a basis for initial classification of Chlamydia isolated from the human genital tract.