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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
In Vivo Assay for Detection of Antigen-specific T-cell Cytolytic Function Using a Vaccination Model
Published on: November 28, 2017
THE SUPRAVITAL STAINING OF VACCINE BODIES
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
Insights
Brilliant cresyl blue selectively stains vaccine bodies in living corneal cells, revealing similar material in unvaccinated cells. This substance appears to be a fluid cytoplasmic constituent, not an independent microorganism.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Corneal cells and their response to external agents are crucial in ocular health.
- Understanding the nature of intracellular inclusions is key to diagnosing and treating infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphology and characteristics of vaccine bodies within living corneal cells.
- To compare observations in living cells with fixed preparations.
- To determine if the observed material represents independent microorganisms.
Main Methods:
- Observation of living corneal cells stained with brilliant cresyl blue in physiological salt solution.
- Comparison of stained living cells with fixed corneal tissue preparations.
- Morphological and microchemical analysis of intracellular material.
Main Results:
- Vaccine bodies in living corneal cells were specifically stained by brilliant cresyl blue.
- Similar material was detected in unvaccinated corneal cells, increasing during reaction.
- The material exhibited fluid cytoplasmic consistency, lacking independent vitality or microbial characteristics.
- Morphology and microchemistry differed from granules reported in vaccine lymph.
Conclusions:
- Brilliant cresyl blue is effective for visualizing intracellular vaccine bodies in living corneal cells.
- The observed material is likely a host cell-derived cytoplasmic constituent, not a microorganism.
- Findings contribute to understanding cellular responses to vaccination and potential intracellular agents.
Abstract:
Vaccine bodies in living corneal cells may be specifically stained by the addition of a small quantity of brilliant cresyl blue 2 B to the physiological salt solution in which they are being observed. Their appearance by this method (Figs. 3 to 17) corresponds with that seen in fixed preparations (Figs. 22 to 42). Both lines of study reveal the existence of traces of similar material in unvaccinated corneal cells. As this increases in amount during the reaction, it behaves like an integral, cytoplasmic constituent of fluid consistency and shows no evidence of being endowed with any measure of independent vitality. The low grade of structural differentiation which it does exhibit, in living cells as well as in fixed tissues, is not suggestive of the presence within it of independent microorganisms. The material differs radically in its morphology and microchemical reactions from the granules observed by MacCallum and Oppenheimer in vaccine lymph.
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