Migration and chemiluminescence of polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes to Bacteroides sonicates

Recent investigations have demonstrated that various preparations obtained from representatives of the genus Bacteroides are poorly phagocytized by polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and macrophages. Crude cell sonicates derived from Bacteroides have been examined for their ability to inhibit migration of PMN and monocytes using a modified migration under agarose in vitro assay. B. gingivalis and B. intermedius were found to be inhibitors of such migration while B. asaccharolyticus did not share this property (P less than 0.005). In addition, B. intermedius sonicates were found to inhibit PMN chemiluminescence to known stimulants (P less than 0.001). These data were not found to result from direct sonicate cytotoxicity and therefore lend additional support to the etiologic importance of specific Bacteroides strains in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic dentoalveolar infections.