Fig 6. Scanning electron microscopy of C. perfringens interacting with epithelial cells.

Caco-2 cells were incubated for 2 h with PBS buffer (A) or ITX (B). No superficial protrusions were observed in PBS treated cells, although bacteria were attached to the cells surface after 2 h of anaerobic incubation. ITX treatment induced the formation of membrane protrusions in Caco-2 cells and clostridia cells were adhered to these cellular deformations.