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. 1980 Jun;28(3):1014–1018. doi: 10.1128/iai.28.3.1014-1018.1980

Intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila in cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts.

M C Wong, E P Ewing Jr, C S Callaway, W L Peacock Jr
PMCID: PMC551051  PMID: 7399685

Abstract

Cell cultures of normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts were inoculated with two strains of Legionella pneumophila, the etiological agent of Legionnaires disease. Large numbers of intact organisms, including many dividing forms, were seen within fibroblasts by light and electron microscopy. Intracellular multiplication of organisms was demonstrated by the progressive increase in bacterial colony counts from plated extracts of infected fibroblast cultures in which extracellular multiplication had been eliminated by bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics. It is evident that L. pneumophila can thrive in an intracellular environment, and this property may be significant in the pathogenesis of Legionnaires disease.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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