Phagocytosis of Vibrio cholerae O139 bengal by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Abstract

Capsulated bacteria exhibit serum (complement) resistance and resistance to phagocytosis, which result in disseminated infections. Vibrio cholerae O139 strains possess a thin capsule and have been found to be partially serum resistant in a previous study. In the present study, compared to a standard capsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, which showed total resistance to killing by phagocytosis, V. cholerae O139 strains were shown to be only partially resistant, with most strains showing <40% survival. These findings may explain the relative rarity of V. cholerae O139 bacteremia in cholera caused by this organism.