Abstract
The inhibitory effect of serum on the growth and survival ofLegionella pneumophila Bloomington 2 was investigated. When incubated in the presence of 20%–50% normal human serum for 10 h, viability was decreased by >99%. Heat-inactivated or <40% normal serum supplemented with 50 μM iron was not inhibitory. The addition of guinea pig complement to heat-inactivated serum resulted in killing of approximately 98% of the cells. Growth in buffered yeast extract broth was inhibited by the addition of ferric iron-binding compounds. Minimum bactericidal concentrations at 37°C were 10 μM apotransferrin, 35 μM 1,10-phenanthroline, and 50 μM deferoxamine. Addition of iron chelators to normal serum did not accelerate killing. Egg yolk-passaged “virulent” strains and agar-grown “avirulent” strains exhibited similar serum sensitivity. Results of this study indicate that complement and serum transferrin are antagonistic to the growth ofLegionella in serum.
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