The characteristics of the interaction of Bacillus anthracis with host phagocytes in relation to the plasmid spectrum of the causative agent
Popov, S.F.; Lipnitskiĭ, A.V.; Barkov, A.M.; Kurilov, V.I.
Zhurnal Mikrobiologii Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii 2: 13-16
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0372-9311 PMID: 8701646 Document Number: 464064
The study revealed that after the intraperitoneal inoculation of spores of B. anthracis strains with different plasmid composition into guinea pigs the active germination of the spores both outside and inside the cells of the host occurred as early as on hour 2 of their interaction with the macroorganism. The further fate of the infective agent and the character of its interaction with peritoneal exudate cells depended on the plasmid composition of the bacilli. Thus, the presence of toxin-formation plasmid PXO1 and capsule-formation plasmid PXO2 in B. anthracis permitted the successful adaptation of these bacilli to the conditions of the macroorganism, while the absence of such plasmids made them nonviable in this environment. The presence of plasmid PXO1 in B. anthracis permitted the manifestation of their cytopathic effort on the cells and the presence of plasmid PXO2 only gave the bacilli incomplete protection from phagocytosis.