Vibrio vulnificus resists phagocytosis in the absence of serum opsonins

Abstract

Invasive disease caused by Vibrio vulnificus may result partially from resistance to phagocytic host defense mechanisms. The present studies show that V. vulnificus resists phagocytosis by murine peritoneal macrophages in the absence of serum opsonins and extracellular bacterial products, apparently through the anti-phagocytic properties of the bacterial surface.