This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ralston, D. J. Articles by Elberg, S. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ralston, D. J. Articles by Elberg, S. S.

Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1969 February; 97(2): 471-480
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Serum-mediated Immune Cellular Responses to Brucella melitensis IV. Infection of Macrophages Under Anaerobic Conditions

Division of Epidemiology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720

ABSTRACT

Immune mechanisms active against Brucella were studied under conditions of oxygen deficiency. B. melitensis grew in rabbit serum-Tyrode medium flooded with N₂ and CO₂ gas mixtures. Immune sera from rabbits injected with B. melitensis strain Rev I possessed growth-inhibitory activity that operated in anaerobic environments against Rev I and virulent strain 6015. When mixed with macrophages, immune sera mediated even greater inhibition of bacterial growth and slowed the spread of infection throughout the tissue culture. Although under anaerobic conditions the rate of phagocytosis was reduced, the macrophages in immune serum killed significant percentages of Brucella, suggesting that an antibacterial mechanism had been activated. Sonic extracts of macrophages prepared and tested under anaerobic conditions depressed the growth rate of strain Rev I. The extracts, however, exhibited no immediate killing capacity when tested in Tyrode solution. A factor from serum was required for depression of the growth rate.