Interactions between Naegleria fowleri and Legionella pneumophila

Abstract

Using electron microscopy we documented some of the intracellular events that occur in Naegleria fowleri suspended in Page amoeba saline after ingestion of Legionella pneumophila. Photomicrographs showed intracellular vacuoles containing bacteria in the process of binary fusion that was accompanied by alignment of mitochondria and ribosome-like structures along the vacuole membrane. Although these intracellular events are remarkably similar to that seen in Legionella replication within human monocytes, we could not demonstrate an increase in the number of bacteria by CFU or dark-field microscopy. However, when the Naegleria cells were allowed to ingest Legionella cells while suspended in amoeba culture medium, the number of bacteria increased, and this was contingent upon the presence of viable amoebae.