Bacillus anthracis spores germinate extracellularly at air-liquid interface in an in vitro lung model under serum-free conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To better understand the parameters that govern spore dissemination after lung exposure using in vitro cell systems.

Methods and results

We evaluated the kinetics of uptake, germination and proliferation of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores in association with human primary lung epithelial cells, Calu-3 and A549 cell lines. We also analysed the influence of various cell culture medium formulations related to spore germination.

Conclusions

We found negligible spore uptake by epithelial cells, but germination and proliferation of spores in the serum-free extracellular environment was evident. Spore germination was appreciably higher in immortalized cell cultures than in primary epithelial cells. Additionally, spores still germinated apically at a mucus-secreting air

SUBMITTER: Powell JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4745038 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature