Reduced germination of Clostridium botulinum type A spores in vitro by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from chronic...

Leukocytes from two patients with chronic granulomatous disease of childhood (CGD) and from one female carrier were examined for their capacity to induce germination of Clostridium botulinum type A spores in vitro. Normal human leukocytes induced germination of C. botulinum spores to the same extent as guinea pig neutrophils. Germination was depressed by more than half when cells from CGD patients were used. A noticeable, but less severe, abnormality was present in leukocytes from a female carrier for this X-linked trait. CGD leukocytes are defective in cellular production of H(2)O(2), and the latter is known to be effective in inducing germination of clostridial spores. Lysozyme is also known to be effective in spore germination and is present in CGD leukocytes in normal amounts. The posibility that C. botulinum spores require a mechanism which sensitizes them to the action of H(2)O(2) and lysozyme is raised, and it is suggested that the methodology used in this work measures a defect of such a mechanism in CGD leukocytes.