INTRACELLULAR BEHAVIOR OF HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM

Journal of Bacteriology
|January 1, 1964
PubMed

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.

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Tuberculosis01:23

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, primarily targeting the lungs and spreading through airborne transmission. Infection begins when aerosolized droplet nuclei, expelled by an individual with active TB, are inhaled by another person. These microscopic particles carry Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Upon reaching the alveoli, the bacilli are engulfed by alveolar macrophages. However, due to their specialized lipid-rich cell wall, these pathogens...
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...
Leishmaniasis01:30

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...