THE FATE OF BACTERIA WITHIN PHAGOCYTIC CELLS

Abstract

The fate of a heat-stable Escherichia coli agglutinogen within three types of rabbit phagocytic cells was examined. A system is described whereby quantitative ingestion of viable E. coli by suspensions of PMN leucocytes, BCG-induced alveolar macrophages, and oil-induced peritoneal macrophages took place in vitro. After various periods of intracellular residence aliquots were injected intraperitoneally into NCS mice and the resulting agglutinins assayed. The loss of immunogenicity within phagocytes was estimated by comparison with a dose-response titration prepared with bacteria alone. Under these conditions no increase in immunogenic mass occurred in vivo or in vitro when viable organisms were employed.