The formation of spheroplasts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in tissue culture cells.

作者：Harshad R. Thacore, Hilda Pope Willett · 发表于：PubMed · 年份：1966 · DOI：10.1164/arrd.1966.93.5.786 · 被引用次数：29 · 研究领域：Cancer Cells and Metastasis、Effects of Radiation Exposure、Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology

The most significant factor in the mechanisms involved in both immunity and natural resistance to tuberculosis is the enhanced capacity of the mononuclear phagocyte to destroy or limit the growth of the invading organism. Lurie's fundamental studies (1, 2) have served as a basis and stimulus for more recent investigations into the enzyme activities of mononuclear phagocytes (3-5). Among the major hydrolases that have been investigated is lysozyme (3, 5-8). This enzyme is present in the tissues and body fluids of many animals and has been found in mononuclear cells (3, 5, 6). Although the possibility has emerged from the studies of Myrvik and his associates (7, 8) that lysozyme plays an important role in resistance to tuberculosis, studies in vivo have not shown its precise mode of action. In vitro, lysozyme destroys both resting and multiplying cells (9, 10). In a previous report, the conversion of the typical bacillary form of M yeo bacterium tuberculosis into osmotically fragile spheroplasts was demonstrated by treatment with lysozyme in an appropriate system suitable for growth (11). The multiplication of these spheroplasts to yield an L-type of growth has also been obtained (12). As tubercle bacilli are intracellular parasites, it would be desirable to obtain a model for testing the effects of various agents such as lysozyme on the organisms after phagocytosis. The following is a report of such a system in which morphologic changes were observed in tubercle