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Appl Environ Microbiol, June 1998, p. 2256-2261, Vol. 64, No. 6
0099-2240/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Mycobacterium avium Bacilli Grow Saprozoically in Coculture with Acanthamoeba polyphaga and Survive within Cyst Walls

Michael Steinert,1,* Kristin Birkness,2 Elizabeth White,3 Barry Fields,1 and Frederick Quinn2

Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases,1 Tuberculosis/Mycobacteriology Branch, Division AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research,2 and Molecular Pathology and Ultrastructure Activity, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases,3 National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Received 1 December 1997/Accepted 17 February 1998

Protozoans are gaining recognition as environmental hosts for a variety of waterborne pathogens. We compared the growth of Mycobacterium avium, a human pathogen associated with domestic water supplies, in coculture with the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga with the growth of M. avium when it was separated from amoebae by a 0.1-µm-pore-size polycarbonate membrane (in a parachamber). Although viable mycobacteria were observed within amoebal vacuoles, there was no significant difference between bacterial growth in coculture and bacterial growth in the parachamber. This suggests that M. avium is able to grow saprozoically on products secreted by the amoebae. In contrast, Legionella pneumophila, a well-studied intracellular parasite of amoebae, multiplied only in coculture. A comparison of amoebae infected with L. pneumophila and amoebae infected with M. avium by electron microscopy demonstrated that there were striking differences in the locations of the bacteria within amoebal cysts. While L. pneumophila resided within the cysts, M. avium was found within the outer walls of the double-walled cysts of A. polyphaga. These locations may provide a reservoir for the bacteria when environmental conditions become unfavorable.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333. Phone: (404) 639-0855. Fax: (404) 639-4215. E-mail: zma7{at}cdc.gov.

Appl Environ Microbiol, June 1998, p. 2256-2261, Vol. 64, No. 6
0099-2240/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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