Legionella Confer Survival Benefits to Paramecium Hosts by Inhibiting Phagocytosis.

ABSTRACT: Legionella survive in the natural environment by remaining within protist host cells. Many protist species, including Paramecium spp., are potential hosts for Legionella. However, the factors and mechanisms involved in the establishment of this relationship are unknown. The advantages gained by Paramecium spp. when they maintain Legionella are also unclear, and the existence of these relationships has not been confirmed. In the present study, feeding with Legionella increased the number of Paramecium cells over time. However, the growth-promoting effect of Legionella was weaker than that of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is considered the optimal bacterial feed for Paramecium. Phagocytosis was strongly inhibited in Paramecium cells fed Legionella, indicating that this relationship prevents t

SUBMITTER: Kiyota H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12727205 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature