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. 1999 Jul;67(7):3469–3480. doi: 10.1128/iai.67.7.3469-3480.1999

FIG. 5.

FIG. 5

TEM of P+ Opa+ organisms with activated microvilli adherent along their full lengths. (A and B) FA1090 P+ OpaE after 10 h of incubation on HEC-1-B cells. Microvilli have elongated and are adhering along their full lengths to gonococci, causing a perturbation of the HEC-1-B cell surface. Internalized cocci that are visible in both panels A and B appear to be free in the cell cytoplasm; vacuole membranes are not clearly visible (A). A bundle of pili is visible extending from the surface of a nonadherent coccus in panel B. (C and D) FA1090 P− OpaE after 10 h of incubation on HEC-1-B cells. Microvilli have not elongated, and the HEC-1-B cell surface is not perturbed. Some of these nonpiliated organisms lie in contiguity with the cell surface, but they are not being internalized. Some vacuoles within the cell cytoplasm appear to contain degenerating organisms. Bacterium-bacterium adhesion is apparent in both panels; tip adherence by microvilli also can be seen in both panels. Bar, 1 μm.