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Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis
08:52

Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis

Published on: January 9, 2013

Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Candida albicans by murine polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Alieke G Vonk1, Mihai G Netea, Bart Jan Kullberg

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.vonk@erasmusmc.nl

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|February 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are key in fighting Candida infections. This study introduces a new method using adherent PMN monolayers to accurately distinguish between phagocytosis and intracellular killing, improving host defense assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are crucial phagocytes for controlling Candida infections.
  • Assessing PMN's role in host defense often involves microbiological assays.
  • Current methods can confuse intracellular and extracellular killing mechanisms, potentially overestimating PMN capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method differentiating phagocytosis from intracellular killing by PMNs.
  • To provide a clearer assessment of PMN's killing capacity against Candida.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an adherent monolayer of exudate peritoneal PMNs.
  • Compared Candida growth in the presence of PMNs versus phagocyte-free controls.
  • Differentiated between phagocytosis and intracellular killing processes.

Main Results:

  • The adherent monolayer method allows for clear distinction between phagocytosis and intracellular killing.
  • This approach avoids overestimation of killing capacity inherent in other methods.

Conclusions:

  • An adherent PMN monolayer model provides a refined approach to study PMN function.
  • This method enhances the accurate assessment of PMN's contribution to host defense against Candida.

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