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Development of a tissue culture model for gonococcal invasion
J H Shaw1, F Hayes, G F Brooks
1Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Stanford University, CA.
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Neisseria gonorrhoeae invades human endometrial cells, multiplying within them over 24 hours. Unlike N. gonorrhoeae, N. lactamica adheres but does not invade these cells.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a significant human pathogen responsible for gonorrhea.
- Understanding bacterial invasion mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- The human endometrial cell line HecIB provides a model for studying host-pathogen interactions in the female reproductive tract.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the invasion process of Neisseria gonorrhoeae into human endometrial cells (HecIB).
- To compare the invasive potential of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with that of the non-pathogenic Neisseria lactamica.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy was employed to visualize the interaction between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and HecIB cells over a 24-hour period.
- Monitoring of bacterial entry, intracellular survival, and host cell response.
Main Results:
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae attached to and were embraced by HecIB cell microvilli within six hours.
- Gonococci entered HecIB cells via membrane-bound vesicles, appearing free in the cytoplasm by eight hours.
- By 24 hours, infected cells contained large clusters of bacteria, suggesting cell lysis and debris formation. Neisseria lactamica adhered but did not invade.
Conclusions:
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae actively invades human endometrial cells, undergoing intracellular proliferation.
- The study highlights a significant difference in invasive capabilities between N. gonorrhoeae and N. lactamica.
- Electron microscopy is a valuable tool for elucidating bacterial invasion dynamics at the cellular level.