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Isolation and characterization of an aetiological agent in Whipple's disease
Abstract:
A cell wall deficient form of an alpha-haemolytic streptococcus was grown from a prolonged monolayer cell culture of a lymph node taken from a patient with Whipple's disease. Serological cross reactivity was shown between the organism and the material within Whipple's disease macrophages positive for diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff (D./P.A.S.). In vitro studies characterized the organism as a facultative intracellular parasite which caused the accumulation within cells of D./P.A.S.-positive material. These results suggest that a pathogenic bacterium is the essential aetiological agent and that the culture of Whipple's disease tissues in hypertonic media may have practical value.
Insights
Researchers identified a unique bacterial form linked to Whipple's disease, a rare condition. This finding suggests a specific bacterium may cause the disease, offering new diagnostic possibilities.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathogenesis
- Immunology
Background:
- Whipple's disease is a rare infectious disease of unknown etiology.
- Macrophages in affected tissues accumulate diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff (D./P.A.S.)-positive material.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential etiological agent of Whipple's disease.
- To characterize a novel bacterial form isolated from patient tissues.
Main Methods:
- Prolonged monolayer cell culture of lymph node biopsy from a Whipple's disease patient.
- Isolation and characterization of a cell wall-deficient alpha-haemolytic streptococcus.
- Serological cross-reactivity assays.
- In vitro studies of the organism's interaction with host cells.
Main Results:
- A cell wall-deficient form of alpha-haemolytic streptococcus was successfully cultured.
- The isolated organism exhibited serological cross-reactivity with Whipple's disease macrophage material.
- In vitro, the bacterium acted as a facultative intracellular parasite, inducing D./P.A.S.-positive material accumulation.
Conclusions:
- A pathogenic bacterium is likely the essential etiological agent of Whipple's disease.
- Culturing Whipple's disease tissues in hypertonic media may be a valuable diagnostic approach.