TABLE 1.
Cellular outcomes of B. pseudomallei cocultured with A. astronyxis
| B. pseudomallei strain | Time (min) | In amoebic trophozoitesa no. of:
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adherent bacillib | Rotating bacillic | Single-bacillus vacuolesd | Multibacillary vacuolese | Bacillary tuftsf | Bacilli in chainsg | Bacillary tanglesh | ||
| NCTC 1026b | 0 | 9.4 ± 4.83 | 3.8 ± 3.6 | 0.8 ± 0.8 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 |
| 20 | 11.8 ± 3.35 | 5.2 ± 1.3 | 7.2 ± 2.6 | 10.4 ± 4.4 | 0.6 ± 0.9 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
| 40 | 10.4 ± 2.9 | 5.0 ± 1.4 | 4.8 ± 1.3 | 12.8 ± 2.8 | 0.8 ± 0.8 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
| 60 | 6.4 ± 3.0 | 1.8 ± 1.6 | 4.0 ± 0.7 | 13.6 ± 2.3 | 0.6 ± 0.9 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
| 1,440 | 17.4 ± 3.1 | 15.4 ± 5.1 | 2.4 ± 2.2 | 6.2 ± 2.6 | 5.2 ± 2.7 | 2.2 ± 2.0 | 1.6 ± 3.0 | |
| MM35 | 0 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 |
| 20 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.20 ± 0.45 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
| 40 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.80 ± 0.45 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
| 60 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
| 1,440 | 0.20 ± 0.45 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 1.40 ± 1.52 | 0.40 ± 0.90 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | |
At each time interval, 20 amoebic trophozoites were examined by phase-contrast microscopy for the presence of each feature indicated. Each series of observations was repeated with a total of five complete cocultures for both B. pseudomallei strains. Values shown are the means ± standard deviations of the numbers of trophozoites exhibiting each feature from five consecutive replicate experiments.
Bacilli adhering to the trophozoite surface via the bacillus end.
One or more bacilli in tethered high-frequency rotation around a point on the external trophozoite surface.
One or more trophozoite vacuoles containing single bacilli.
One or more trophozoite vacuoles containing more than one distinct bacillus.
Five or more bacilli in a single tuft of parallel bacilli adhering to the external trophozoite surface.
Five or more bacilli in one or more chains of bacilli adherent to the external trophozoite surface.
Bacilli in a tangled web of chains external to the trophozoite or cyst surface.