Intracellular Fate of Phase I Coxiella burnetii in Guinea Pig Peritoneal Macrophages

摘要

Guinea pig peritoneal macrophages were infected with phase I Coxiella burnetii to assess the intracellular distribution of ingested rickettsiae. Localization of organisms was determined by fractionation of macrophage homogenates by equilibrium density centrifugation on sucrose gradients. Results show that in the absence of immune serum, ingested C. burnetii are not sequestered within macrophage lysosomes. Sequestration and subsequent degradation of rickettsiae within lysosomes occurs only when C. burnetii are opsonized with immune serum. (Author)