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Updated: Sep 4, 2026

Passive Administration of Monoclonal Antibodies Against H. capsulatum and Others Fungal Pathogens
Published on: February 14, 2011
Abstract:
Howard, Dexter H. (University of California, Los Angeles). Intracellular behavior of Histoplasma capsulatum. J. Bacteriol. 87:33-38. 1964.-The tinctorial characteristics and intracellular generation time of Histoplasma capsulatum within mouse histiocytes maintained in tissue culture were studied. The appearance of viable and nonviable cells of H. capsulatum was observed after staining with the May Grunwald-Giemsa, Methenamine Silver, and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) procedures. Death of the fungus, either induced by heat or occurring naturally in saline suspension, caused a loss of nuclear differentiation. This loss was not accompanied by changes in the PAS or Silver staining capacities of the cell walls of the fungus. There was no tinctorial evidence for intracellular death of H. capsulatum in normal mouse histiocytes. The intracellular generation time of the fungus was estimated to be 10.3 +/- 1.5 hr, and was not affected by the age of the histiocytes. The generation time was approximately the same in histiocytes from Webster-Swiss and A/J mice.
Insights
This study investigated Histoplasma capsulatum within mouse cells. The fungus showed no signs of intracellular death and had a generation time of approximately 10.3 hours.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Mycology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Histoplasma capsulatum is an important fungal pathogen.
- Understanding its intracellular behavior is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the intracellular fate and growth dynamics of H. capsulatum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the tinctorial characteristics of Histoplasma capsulatum within mouse histiocytes.
- To determine the intracellular generation time of H. capsulatum.
- To assess the viability of H. capsulatum cells within host cells.
Main Methods:
- Mouse histiocytes were maintained in tissue culture.
- Histoplasma capsulatum cells were stained using May Grunwald-Giemsa, Methenamine Silver, and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) methods.
- Viable and nonviable fungal cells were observed and characterized.
Main Results:
- Heat-induced or natural cell death in H. capsulatum resulted in loss of nuclear differentiation but not changes in cell wall staining.
- No tinctorial evidence of intracellular death of H. capsulatum was observed in normal mouse histiocytes.
- The estimated intracellular generation time of H. capsulatum was 10.3 ± 1.5 hours, unaffected by histiocyte age or mouse strain.
Conclusions:
- Histoplasma capsulatum appears to survive and replicate within mouse histiocytes without readily apparent signs of intracellular death.
- The determined generation time provides a key parameter for understanding H. capsulatum's intracellular proliferation.
- Further research is warranted to explore host-pathogen interactions and mechanisms of H. capsulatum pathogenesis.
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