Legionella pneumophila proliferation is not dependent on intracellular replication

Surman, Susanne, Morton, Glyn, Fitzgeorge, Roy and Keevil, Bill (2001) Legionella pneumophila proliferation is not dependent on intracellular replication. In, Marre, Reinhard, Abu Kwaik, Yousef, Bartlett, Christopher, Cianciotto, Nicholas, Fields, Barry, Frosch, Matthias, Hacker, Jorg and Luck, Paul (eds.) Legionella. Washington, DC. ASM Press, pp. 86-89. (doi:10.1128/9781555817985.ch17).

Abstract

The complexities of the relationship between Legionella pneumophila and other microorganisms for the growth and survival of legionellae in the environment is still not fully understood, though it is generally believed that amoebae play an important role in the natural environment. Although strains of varying virulence are isolated from environmental sources, it is still generally accepted that intracellular replication is important for the ability of L. pneumophila to proliferate in the natural environment. The model water system allowed the development of reproducible biofilms. A diverse but fairly constant consortium of aquatic microorganisms including fungi, bacteria, and protozoa could be maintained in this system. To investigate if legionellae could have the potential to replicate without multiplication within a protozoal host, an avirulent strain of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 Pontiac (Corby Strain) (CAC) was added to the system. If intracellular multiplication is essential for the proliferation of L. pneumophila in aquatic systems, then elimination of trophozoites in the model system would prevent any further growth of legionellae, and consequently numbers would decrease due to dilution by the continuous culture medium.

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Contributors

Author: Bill Keevil

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