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. 1995 Jan;63(1):366–374. doi: 10.1128/iai.63.1.366-374.1995

Rickettsia conorii entry into Vero cells.

N Teysseire 1, J A Boudier 1, D Raoult 1
PMCID: PMC173004  PMID: 7806381

Abstract

The entry of rickettsiae into eukaryotic cells is mediated by an induced phagocytosis, but rickettsiae have never been observed in a closed phagocytic vacuole. In this study, Rickettsia conorii entry into Vero cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy during a period of 3 to 20 min after bacterium-cell contact. The entry occurred within 3 min after bacterium-cell contact, and R. conorii was observed in the process of engulfment, within a phagocytic vacuole, or free in the cytosol. Escape from the phagosome is a very rapid step since phagosome lysis was only occasionally observed. By 12 min, 90% of bacteria were internalized and half were free in the cytosol. This report confirms that rickettsiae penetrate nonphagocytic cells by induced phagocytosis and is the first demonstration of rickettsiae within a complete phagocytic vacuole.

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Selected References

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