In vitro characterization of Salmonella typhi mutant strains for live oral vaccines

Several Salmonella typhi attenuated mutant strains, suggested as candidates for live oral vaccine, were examined for their characteristics in vitro in comparison with parental strains Ty2 and CDC10-80. Three methods were used: interaction of bacteria with the human monocyte-macrophage U937 cell line evaluated by microscopic examination, bacterial growth in the cell culture medium estimated by absorbance and bacterial resistance to human plasma assessed by the viable count technique. The most informative data were obtained in the test with U937 cells. Ty2 penetrated almost 100% of the cells, multiplied rapidly and caused death of the cells. CDC10-80 infected about 30% of the cells, multiplied slightly and did not kill the cells. The Ty2 mutant galE via EX462 behaved like CDC10-80. Bacteria of the galE Ty21a, Vi + Ty21a, 541 Ty and 543 Ty, found in only 3-4% of the cells, did not multiply within the cells and decreased in number with time. These findings correlate with the reported virulence of these strains for humans. With the second method, the rate of bacterial growth in cell culture medium did not differentiate Ty2, CDC10-80 and EX462. They grew at the same rate and faster than the remaining mutants. The plasma resistance test did not discriminate between EX462 and other mutants. These tests did not reveal any difference between Vi + Ty21a and Vi-Ty21a.