Phagocytosis by bovine polymorphs of glass-adherent Escherichia coli in the presence and absence of serum

Chemiluminescence response of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by purified, latex attached Klebsiella fimbriae

Type 1 fimbriae (T1F) and type 3 fimbriae (T3F) were isolated from Klebsiella species, purified, attached to latex beads and tested for their ability to stimulate human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) oxidative activity. The luminol dependent chemiluminescence assay was used to evaluate the response of phagocytes. Latex particles coated with type 3 fimbriae (1-T3F) induced a significantly higher chemiluminescence response than those with type 1 fimbriae (1-T1F). Opsonization of 1-T1F with pooled human serum induced chemiluminescence responses which were statistically significantly enhanced as compared to opsonized 1-T3F and both kinds of non-opsonized fimbriae.

Assessment of phagocytosis of plastic adherent group B streptococci by ELISA quenching

An ELISA was devised to quantitate the number of group B streptococci (GBS) adherent to flat-bottomed 96-well microtiter plates. Ingestion of GBS by bovine polymorphonuclears (PMN) led to a decrease in ELISA values. This ELISA quenching proved to be proportional to phagocytosis. The method is suitable for kinetic studies of phagocytosis using glutaraldehyde to block the uptake of bacteria. The ELISA quenching test is applicable to a large number of samples and permits the use of the semi-automated equipment developed for ELISA.