[Phagocytosis of enteropathogenic escherichiae of serogroup 0124:K72(B17)]

Experiments with phagocytosis of E. coli O124 in the macrophage tissue culture demonstrated a different phagocytability of the S- and R-forms of these bacteria determined by their concentration in the medium. The ingestive and digestive capacity depended on the bacterial virulence. Since R-forms of E. coli O124 lost their virulent properties and macrophage resistance it can be considered that the structure of their lipopolysaccharides served as the chemical substrate responsible for their different phagocytability.