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Infection and Immunity, September 2001, p. 5335-5344, Vol. 69, No. 9
Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and
Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia1; Department of
Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School,
Chicago, Illinois 606112; and
AstraZeneca Research and Development, Waltham, Massachusetts
024513
Received 19 January 2001/Returned for modification 14 March
2001/Accepted 22 May 2001
A guinea pig model of experimental legionellosis was established
for assessment of virulence of isolates of Legionella
longbeachae. The results showed that there were distinct
virulence groupings of L. longbeachae serogroup 1 strains based on the severity of disease produced in this model.
Statistical analysis of the animal model data suggests that Australian
isolates of L. longbeachae may be inherently more
virulent than non-Australian strains. Infection studies performed with
U937 cells were consistent with the animal model studies and showed
that isolates of this species were capable of multiplying within these
phagocytic cells. Electron microscopy studies of infected lung tissue
were also undertaken to determine the intracellular nature of L.
longbeachae serogroup 1 infection. The data showed that
phagosomes containing virulent L. longbeachae serogroup
1 appeared bloated, contained cellular debris and had an apparent rim
of ribosomes while those containing avirulent L.
longbeachae serogroup 1 were compact, clear and smooth.
0019-9567/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/IAI.69.9.5335-5344.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Comparison of Virulence of
Legionella longbeachae Strains in Guinea Pigs and U937
Macrophage-Like Cells
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: P.O. Box 14, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia. Phone: 618 8222 3274. Fax: 618 8222 3543. E-mail:
robyn.doyle{at}imvs.sa.gov.au.
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