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Phagocytosis of Microorganisms by Hela Cells

I. The Use of Bovine Fetal Serum for the Study of Mycobacteria and Certain Other Gram-Positive Bacteria

Communicable Disease Center, Public Health Service, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Montgomery, Alabama

Abstract

1. Bovine fetal serum promotes the uptake of mycobacteria by HeLa cells and has been found superior to horse serum and chicken serum in infection medium. There has been little variation between lots.

2. When bovine fetal serum has been used in the infection medium the subsequent intracellular growth rate of tubercle bacilli is faster than it is when horse or chicken serum is used in the infection medium. The time required to "fill" the cells with tubercle bacilli is shortened by about 20%.

3. The phagocytosis of staphylococci and streptococci is also promoted by bovine fetal serum and by horse serum. Absorption with Zymosan of the bovine fetal serum before its inclusion in infection medium leads to more rapid intracellular growth of these organisms. Dilution of these organisms in broth, rather than salt solution, also increases the rate of their subsequent intracellular growth.

4. A combination of two purified proteins, bovine fetuin and human albumin, also promotes the uptake of mycobacteria, staphylococci, and group A streptococci. A medium containing these two proteins appears to be the preferable infection medium for the growth of these organisms in HeLa cells.