Demonstration of intracellular growth of gonococci in human phagocytes using spectinomycin to kill extracellular organisms.

The use of spectinomycin to kill extracellular bacterial in phagocytosis tests with gonococci and human polymorphonuclear phagocytes allowed the demonstration of a greater degree of intracellular survival and growth than in previous tests using penicillin.     

A fully defined, clear and protein-free liquid medium permitting dense growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from very low inocula

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is difficult to cultivate in liquid medium. Currently there are no liquid media, defined or undefined, that reliably permit growth of this bacterium from low inocula. Standard clinical laboratory broths may allow multiplication of some strains of gonococci from large inocula, but such media incorporate infusates, extracts or digests and are therefore undefined. In this study, 20 gonococci of ten auxotypes were tested in various experimental media in the development of an easily prepared chemically defined, clear and protein-free liquid medium. The final medium - GW medium - allowed the growth of three clinical isolates of gonococci from inocula of <10(3) CFU mL(-1) to >10(8) CFU mL(-1) by 24 h. None of four commercially-available broths (nutrient broth, brain heart infusion, tryptone soya broth, and Mueller-Hinton broth) tested in parallel reliably supported growth of these isolates to the same extent. GW medium should be useful for studies of the growth of gonococci under different conditions and, as the medium is clear and colorless, this can be monitored turbidometrically. GW medium may be suitable as a basal medium for biochemical identification tests, antimicrobial susceptibility determinations and antimicrobial synergy studies.     

Cytotoxicity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for human peripheral blood phagocytes

The toxicity of gonococci [strain BS4 (agar)] for human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear phagocytes, infected in vitro, was assessed by light microscopic examination of Giemsa stained cell deposits of polymorphonuclear phagocytes which had ingested these bacteria. The cytotoxicity elicited by viable gonococci, assessed by percentage lysis and concomitant reduction in the number of polymorphonuclear phagocytes increased as the ratio of gonococci to phagocytes in the original suspension mixture was raised. Pretreatment of viable gonococci with antiserum raised to whole organisms increased the cytotoxic effect produced by the organisms. Killed (heat or UV irradiation) gonococci caused little or no cytotoxicity, even when the organisms were pretreated with specific antiserum. Hence, the lysis of polymorphonuclear phagocytes appears to be caused by a factor or factors produced by viable gonococci and not by LPS per se.     

The effect of specific antiserum on the resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to intracellular killing by phagocytes of human blood.

The high natural resistance of gonococci showing a characteristic 'double highlight' (DH) colonial morphology (Penn, Veale & Smith, 1977b) to intracellular killing by human phagocytes was markedly reduced by addition of rabbit antiserum to the phagocytosis medium or by preincubation of organisms with antiserum. Antisera raised to three different DH gonococcal strains showed a complex pattern of specificity in phagocytosis tests with the homologous organisms and three other DH strains. The effect of antiserum could be neutralized by adsorption with intact organisms or with extracts, prepared ultrasonically, of the homologous strain. Antiserum also promoted the intracellular killing of a strain which had a 'single highlight' colonial morphology (Penn et al., 1977b) and a low natural resistance to phagocytic killing, but adsorption with this strain neutralized the antiserum less consistently than the DH strain. The neutralization of antiserum-mediated promotion of intracellular killing by extracts of organisms naturally resistant to such killing may provide an assay for the aggressins responsible for this resistance.     

Selection from gonococci grown in vitro of a colony type with some virulence properties of organisms adapted in vivo.

Gonococci from subcutaneously implanted chambers in guinea pigs produced, on agar, more than 95% small colonies showing a "double highlight" (DH) effect in oblique reflected light combined with transmitted light. Laboratory strains of gonococci produced some DH colonies, but other showed a single highlight (SH) or no highlight (NH). Selection of DH colonies and comparison of their organisms with gonococci grown in vivo and with those from SH colonies, showed that the DH character was associated with high infectivity for guinea-pig chambers, resistance to killing by human phagocytes and heavy pilation. Furthermore, DH colonies were found in the first culture of three fresh samples of urethral pus. Thus, the DH colony characteristic may be a more reliable criterion of pathogenicity of gonococcal isolates than systems used previously. There were, however, some differences between the gonococci grown in vivo and the DH colony types. The gonococci grown in vivo and cultured once on solid medium possessed one or two antigens which differed from those of DH (or SH) colonies. They also formed smooth suspensions (which separated slowly) in saline, compared with the rough suspensions (which separated quickly) formed by gonococci from DH (or SH) colonies. Finally, the organisms grown in vivo were resistant to killing by human serum whereas the DH (and SH) colony types were susceptible; the resistance of the organisms grown in vivo was lost during one subculture on agar suggesting that the property is a phenotypic characteristic. Hence, in addition to selecting DH colony types the conditions in vivo produce organisms which differ, probably phenotypically, from cultured organisms.     

Electro-orientation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe in high conductivity media

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and mononuclear phagocytes represent an important first line and effector function in the control of Candida infections. Their relative contribution to host defence is frequently assessed by means of microbiological assays. However, reported results are divergent and might well be associated with study design-related issues. In the present study, we compared frequently used microbiological candidacidal assays, with the purpose of determining the most adequate method for assessment of phagocytosis and intracellular killing. We concluded that microbiological assays using yeast-phagocyte suspensions are inappropriate for the assessment of intracellular killing of Candida blastoconidia by murine macrophages, due to adherence or clumping of cells. In contrast, an adherent monolayer of phagocytes can be applied as a single microbiological assay to independently study the process of phagocytosis and intracellular killing, by exudate peritoneal macrophages as well as exudate peritoneal PMN.     

Metabolic responses of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to human serum and myeloid cells. Adaptation to host defenses?

The interaction of gonococci with host defenses including serum and phagocytic cells has been extensively studied. We have shown that a small molecular weight factor in serum stimulates gonococcal metabolism. This factor has now been isolated by column chromatography and may be released from mammalian cells including phagocytes. Exposure of gonococci to serum decreases membrane fluidity as demonstrated by EPR, seems to reduce OMP shedding, and reduces uptake by PMNS. Serum stimulated gonococci consume O₂ to an extent adequate to interfere with PMN formation of reactive oxygen intermediates. We propose that all of these responses are adaptive and favor survival of this pathogen.     

Endocytosis of chlamydiae by McCoy cells: measurement and effects of centrifugation

Abstract Chlamydia trachomatis strain 434 and C. psittaci strain guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) were compared for entry into McCoy cells and expression of productive infection (inclusion body formation). Entry was measured as the difference between extracellular cell-associated organisms, determined directly after fluorescence staining of live cells, and total cell-associated organisms (intracellular and extracellular); the latter were evaluated from radioactivity measurement and known particle: radioactivity ratios for stock radiolabelled suspensions. Under inoculation conditions of natural (spontaneous) infection, 69–82% of cell-associated organisms of both strains were internalised and entry was not enhanced by centrifugation of inocula with monolayers. For 434, inclusion bodies were seen in 10–20% of cells containing organisms and numbers were little influenced by mode of infection. For GPIC, productive infection initiated by centrifugation was comparable with that of 434 but some 15-fold reduced in spontaneous infection. The results suggest that unproductive infection by GPIC occurs, not because of defective entry, but from inhibition at an intracellular step which is circumvented when infection is initiated by centrifugation.     

Differences in initial rate of intracellular killing of Salmonella typhimurium by granulocytes of Salmonella-susceptible C57BL/10 mice and Salmonella-resistant CBA mice

The contribution of granulocytes to differences in the innate susceptibility of mouse strains to infection by Salmonella typhimurium was assessed on the basis of the size and composition of the inflammatory exudate after i.p. injection of bacteria and the intracellular killing of the bacteria by exudate peritoneal cells and blood granulocytes of resistant CBA and susceptible C57BL/10 mice. The increase in the numbers of both peritoneal granulocytes and macrophages 24 hr after i.p. injection of various numbers of live S. typhimurium was two to four times higher in C57BL/10 mice (p less than 0.05) than in CBA mice. However, despite the larger number of phagocytes in the inflammatory exudate, the numbers of viable S. typhimurium in the peritoneal cavity 24 hr after injection was higher (p less than 0.01) in C57BL/10 mice than in CBA mice. Because the proportion of noningested bacteria was similar in the two mouse strains (less than 30%), these findings indicate a difference in the rate of intracellular killing of the bacteria by exudate peritoneal cells (greater than 75% granulocytes) of the two mouse strains. Subsequent determination of the initial rate of intracellular killing (Kk) of S. typhimurium revealed that after phagocytosis of the bacteria in vivo, exudate peritoneal granulocytes (harvested 24 hr after i.p. injection of 10(3) live S. typhimurium) of CBA mice killed S. typhimurium twice as efficiently (Kk = 0.014 min-1; p less than 0.01) as exudate granulocytes of C57BL/10 mice (Kk = 0.008 min-1) did. Similarly, the initial rate of intracellular killing of the ingested S. typhimurium by blood granulocytes of CBA mice (Kk = 0.017 min-1) was two times higher (p less than 0.01) than that of C57BL/10 mice (Kk = 0.007 min-1). These findings may be specific for S. typhimurium, because L. monocytogenes were killed with equal efficiency by exudate granulocytes and blood granulocytes of these mouse strains (p greater than 0.20). The results of the present study are relevant with respect to the innate resistance of mice to S. typhimurium, particularly during the initial phase of infection when the inflammatory exudate contains predominantly granulocytes.     

How to establish a lasting relationship with your host: lessons learned from Mycobacterium spp

Mycobacterium spp. enjoy an intracellular lifestyle that is fatal to most microorganisms. Bacilli persist and multiply within mononuclear phagocytes in the face of defences ranging from toxic oxygen and nitrogen radicals, acidic proteases and bactericidal peptides. Uptake of Mycobacterium by phagocytes results in the de novo formation of a phagosome, which is manipulated by the pathogen to accommodate its needs for intracellular survival and replication. The present review describes the intracellular compartment occupied by Mycobacterium spp. and presents current ideas on how mycobacteria may establish this niche, placing special emphasis on the involvement of mycobacterial cell wall lipids.     

The role of neutrophils and monocytic cells in controlling the initiation of Clostridium perfringens gas gangrene

Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of the fatal disease gas gangrene (myonecrosis). Established gas gangrene is notable for a profound absence of neutrophils and monocytic cells (phagocytes), and it has been suggested that the bactericidal activities of these cells play an insignificant role in controlling the progression of the infection. However, large inocula of bacteria are needed to establish an infection in experimental animals, suggesting phagocytes may play a role in inhibiting the initiation of gangrene. Examination of tissue sections of mice infected with a lethal (1 x 10(9)) or sublethal (1 x 10(6)) inoculum of C. perfringens revealed that phagocyte infiltration in the first 3 h postinfection was inhibited with a lethal dose but not with a sublethal dose, indicating that exclusion of phagocytes begins very early in the infection cycle. Experiments in which mice were depleted of either circulating monocytes or neutrophils before infection with C. perfringens showed that monocytes play a role in inhibiting the onset of gas gangrene at intermediate inocula but, although neutrophils can slow the onset of the infection, they are not protective. These results suggest that treatments designed to increase monocyte infiltration and activate macrophages may lead to increased resistance to the initiation of gas gangrene.     

Comparison of the physiological and biochemical indices of the phagocytosis of ram erythrocytes by macro- and microphages]

Morita and Perkins' method was applied to the study of the stage of ingestion and destruction of an antigen (sheep erythrocytes) in the macrophages of peritoneal exudate of rabbits and rats and in the microphages of rabbit pleural exudate. Ingestion and intracellular destruction of the antigen were accompanied by intensified respiration and glycolysis of phagocytes. Respiration of the three types of phagocytes at two stages of phagocytosis and also the digestive capacity of microphages proved to be sensitive to cyanide and colchicine. The latter failed to influence the ingestion of the antigen by the three types of phagocytes and its digestion by macrophages. The differences in the metabolism routes of macro- and microphages in intracellular destruction of the antigen was postulated. An intensification of the phagocytic activity after the immunization was characteristic of rabbit and rat macrophages.     

The professional phagocytes of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.): cytochemical characterisation of neutrophils and macrophages in the normal and inflamed peritoneal cavity

In order to identify the phagocytic cells of sea bass, the peritoneal leucocyte population of fish injected intraperitoneally with Photobacterium damselae subspecies piscicida was studied by light microscopy using cytocentrifuge preparations stained by the Antonow technique for peroxidase detection. Among the leucocytes present in the peritoneal exudate of the infected fish (macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophilic granular cells, lymphocytes and thrombocytes), macrophages and neutrophils were the only phagocytic cells. Neutrophils were easily distinguished from macrophages in Antonow stained preparations by the pattern of peroxidase positivity. Using ultrastructural cytochemistry, neutrophils were found to have abundant cytoplasmic granules positive for peroxidase and arylsulphatase and were negative for alpha-naphthyl butyrate (ANB) esterase. In contrast, ANB esterase activity was detected in macrophages. These leucocytes were typically negative for peroxidase, but ocasionally, some macrophages with peroxidase or arylsulphatase-positive vacuoles were observed. Both phagocytes had cytoplasmic granules positive for acid phosphatase. Glycogen particles were found in the cytoplasm of the two phagocytic cells, but they were much more abundant in neutrophils. Macrophages were much more abundant than neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity of non-injected sea bass but early after the intraperitoneal injection of bacteria, the number of neutrophils increased quickly and extensively. Higher numbers of intraperitoneally injected bacteria were found inside macrophages as compared to neutrophils because macrophages strongly predominated in the peritoneal population at the time of injection. However, when the bacteria were injected into peritoneal cavities with high numbers of neutrophils (attracted by a previous injection of 12% casein), the percentage of neutrophils with phagocytosed bacteria increased, approaching that of infected macrophages. Taken together, these results show that in sea bass, as in many other organisms, in addition to macrophages, neutrophils are important phagocytic cells, the relative participation of each of the two phagocytes in defense mechanisms against infection depending on the opportunity to encounter the invading infectious agents.     

Protein changes associated with induced resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to killing by human serum are relatively minor

Serum-susceptible (SS) Neisseria gonorrhoeae were induced to resistance (SR) to complement-mediated killing by fresh human serum (FHS) by a small-Mr factor(s) from guinea-pig blood in 3 h at 37 degrees C, but not in the presence of bacteriostatic concentrations of chloramphenicol or neomycin, indicating that proteins mediated the acquisition of resistance. SDS-PAGE protein profiles of lysates of equal numbers of gonococci showed only two qualitative differences between SR and SS organisms, both in minor components (a protein A of about 205 kDa in the former and not the latter and vice versa for a protein B of about 16 kDa). Many proteins, however, including the three principal outer-membrane proteins, were present in larger amounts in SR gonococci. The lack of major changes in proteins when resistance is acquired was confirmed by immunoblotting the two protein profiles with the IgG of hyper-immune rabbit anti-SR and anti-SS sera, of rabbit anti-SR serum after absorption by SS organisms and of FHS used alone and after absorption with SS organisms. The IgM of FHS, which is responsible for most of the bactericidal activity, showed only faint reactions with a few proteins common to both SS and SR gonococci and no reactions when the FHS was absorbed with SS gonococci. This is in contrast to the strong and different reactions given with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components of SS and SR organisms, which, prepared from the former organisms, neutralize the bactericidal activity of FHS. Hence, the relatively small protein changes accompanying induction are less likely to be directly responsible for serum resistance than the more profound LPS changes.     

Interactions between natural killer cells and antibody Fc result in enhanced antibody neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Antibodies can prevent lentivirus infections in animals and may play a role in controlling viral burden in established infection. In preventing and particularly in controlling infection, antibodies likely function in the presence of large quantities of virus. In this study, we explored the mechanisms by which antibodies neutralize large inocula of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) on different target cells. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from HIV-infected patients was tested for neutralizing activity against primary R5 strains of HIV-1 at inocula ranging from 100 to 20,000 50% tissue culture infective doses. At all virus inocula, inhibition by antibody was enhanced when target cells for virus growth were monocyte-depleted, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) rather than CD4(+) lymphocytes. However, enhanced inhibition on PBMCs was greatest with larger amounts of virus. Depleting PBMCs of natural killer (NK) cells, which express Fc receptors for IgG (FcgammaRs), abrogated the enhanced antibody inhibition, whereas adding NK cells to CD4(+) lymphocytes restored inhibition. There was no enhanced inhibition on PBMCs when F(ab')(2) was used. Further experiments demonstrated that the release of beta-chemokines, most likely through FcgammaR triggering of NK cells, contributed modestly to the antiviral activity of antibody on PBMCs and that antibody-coated virus adsorbed to uninfected cells provided a target for NK cell-mediated inhibition of HIV-1. These results indicate that Fc-FcgammaR interactions enhance the ability of antibody to neutralize HIV-1. Since FcgammaR-bearing cells are always present in vivo, FcgammaR-mediated antibody function may play a role in the ability of antibody to control lentivirus infection.     

Association of resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to killing by human phagocytes with outer-membrane proteins of about 20 kilodaltons

The determinant(s) of gonococcal resistance to killing by human phagocytes has been extracted from outer membrane vesicles (OMV) of a phagocyte-resistant strain, BS4 (agar), with sodium cholate (1%, w/v). The extracts, like the OMV, nullified the effect of antiserum raised against whole BS4 (agar) to promote intracellular killing of the latter by human peripheral blood phagocytes. Fractionation of the extract on Sephadex G75 produced an active fraction with much less protein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) than in the original extract. Furthermore, crude LPS prepared from the resistant gonococci was inactive. These results imply that the factor(s) promoting intracellular resistance is a protein. SDS-PAGE of the active fraction suggested that the factor was not a principal outer membrane protein nor one of three proteins previously thought to be associated with resistance. In contrast to a similar preparation from a phagocyte-susceptible strain, BSSH, the active fraction from BS4 (agar) showed faintly staining proteins in the regions of 20 and 60 kDal. When eluted from the gels, the former but not the latter neutralized the above effect of antisera, thus associating the 20 kDal protein(s) with resistance to intracellular killing.     

Macrophage growth inhibitors derived from the murine peritoneal cavity

Summary The murine peritoneal cavity contains factors that inhibit the in vitro growth and colony formation of macrophages. The inhibition of macrophage growth is not due to cell death. In the presence of inhibitors, the growth of colony-forming macrophages is suppressed, and small clusters are formed as a result of limited proliferation. The more mature mono-nuclear phagocytes (blood monocytes and peritoneal exudate macrophages) are more sensitive to the overall inhibitory effect of the peritoneal inhibitors than the less mature bone marrow mononuclear phagocytes. Furthermore, using dialysis and Amicon ultrafiltration, at least two inhibitors with differential inhibitory effects can be demonstrated. The colony formation of bone marrow mononuclear phagocytes is suppressed mainly by a protease-resistant, small molecular weight (<1,000) dialyzable inhibitor. In contrast, peritoneal exudate macrophages are sensitive to both the small molecular weight inhibitor and a protease-sensitive, large molecular weight (>12,000), nondialyzable inhibitor. The data suggest a possible existence of a dual inhibitor control on the proliferation of mononuclear phagocytes in vivo. In addition, the in vitro cultured peritoneal exudate cells are capable of producing inhibitors that mimic the activity of the in vivo inhibitors. This investigation was supported by Grants CA 09 11(SY) and AI15563(CCS) from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD     

Lactoferrin effects on phagocytic cell function. I. Increased uptake and killing of an intracellular parasite by murine macrophages and human monocytes

Mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) or human blood monocytes (HBM) co-cultured with intracellular (amastigote; AMA) forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in the presence of human lactoferrin (LF) took up greater numbers of organisms than in the absence of LF; the proportion of phagocytes taking up AMA was also significantly increased. Pretreatment of either MPM or AMA with LF also enhanced cell-parasite association. By immunofluorescence, HBM, MPM, and AMA were found to bind LF. By using 125I-labeled LF, each AMA was determined to have an average 1.1 X 10(6) surface receptors for LF. The enhancing effect of LF on cell-parasite association was inhibited when either rabbit anti-LF IgG or alpha-methyl mannoside (alpha-MM) was present during the incubation of MPM or AMA with LF, or when AMA pretreated with LF were then incubated with either of the LF blocking agents. Although these findings seemed to suggest that LF increased MPM-AMA association by bridging these cells, the LF effect was not inhibited when MPM pretreated with LF were subsequently incubated with either alpha-MM or anti-LF. Furthermore, LF stimulated phagocytosis, as denoted by a significant increase in latex particle uptake after LF treatment of MPM. The intracellular killing capacity of HBM or MPM was also stimulated by LF and was denoted by increased AMA destruction after LF treatments. The possibility that LF only appeared to increase the rate of AMA killing by simply promoting the engulfment of greater numbers of AMA that would then be destroyed intracellularly seemed unlikely because untreated MPM that had already taken up untreated AMA killed greater numbers of AMA when they were subsequently incubated with LF. The results of experiments with scavengers of oxygen reduction intermediates and of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction tests indicated that H2O2, O2- and 1O2 were involved in the killing of AMA by LF-treated MPM. These results suggest that LF, a glycoprotein secreted by neutrophils in greater than normal amounts during inflammation, may contribute to macrophage clearance of AMA released from infected host cells.     

Effects of human peripheral blood monocytes,monocyte-derived macrophages,and spleen mononuclear phagocytes on Toxoplasma gondii

In vitro effects of human peripheral blood monocytes, peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages, and spleen mononuclear phagocytes on Toxoplasma gondii were studied. In almost all instances, over 80% of human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages infected with Toxoplasma in vitro destroyed the organism. Degeneration of intracellular Toxoplasma was not due to decreased viability of organisms in the challenge inoculum. Human monocytes did not elaborate into the culture medium substances which altered the capacity of Toxoplasma to survive and replicate within mouse macrophages. The early reduction in intracellular Toxoplasma was not affected by inhibitors of various intracellular processes or by diseases associated with altered cellular immunity (sarcoidosis, infectious mononucleosis, or lymphoma.) The Toxoplasma that remained after 6 hr within human monocytes and macrophages multiplied. This multiplication was observed both microscopically and in a radioassay which detects uptake of [³H]uracil or [³H]deoxyuridine into nucleic acids of intracellular Toxoplasma. Intracellular Toxoplasma in monocytes cultured with poly(I:C) or in monocyte-derived macrophages cultured with lymphokines showed decreased uptake of radiolabeled precursors into nucleic acids of intracellular Toxoplasma. Treatment of monocytes with endotoxin did not alter nucleic acid synthesis of surviving intracellular Toxoplasma. These results suggest that human mononuclear phagocytes in peripheral blood and in tissue (spleen) have the capacity to eliminate a large percentage of the Toxoplasma that they ingest or that invade them. The inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis of remaining Toxoplasma by exposure of monocyte-derived macrophages to lymphokines suggests that lymphocyte products may be important for elimination of the Toxoplasma that remain and multiply within a small proportion of mononuclear phagocytes.     

Alveolar macrophage activation in experimental legionellosis.

Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular parasite of alveolar macrophages. In vitro studies have shown that lymphokine-activated mononuclear phagocytes inhibit intracellular replication of L. pneumophila. To determine if recovery from legionellosis is associated with activation of alveolar macrophages in vivo to resist L. pneumophila, we studied an animal model of Legionnaires' disease. Rats were exposed to aerosolized L. pneumophila and alveolar macrophages were harvested during the recovery phase of infection. We compared these alveolar exudate macrophages with normal resident alveolar macrophages for the capacity to support or inhibit the intracellular growth of L. pneumophila. We also measured Ia expression as a marker of immunologic activation, and studied binding of bacteria, superoxide release, and the expression of transferrin receptors as potential mechanisms of resistance to L. pneumophila. For perspective on the specificity of these responses, we also studied alveolar exudate cells elicited by inhalation of heat-killed L. pneumophila, live Listeria monocytogenes, and live Escherichia coli. We found that alveolar exudate macrophages elicited by live L. pneumophila, but not heat-killed L. pneumophila, resisted the intracellular growth of L. pneumophila. Exudate macrophages in resolving legionellosis exhibited increased Ia expression, diminished superoxide production, and downregulation of transferrin receptors. Binding of L. pneumophila to exudate macrophages was indistinguishable from that to resident macrophages in the presence of normal serum, and augmented in the presence of immune serum. Alveolar exudate macrophages elicited by E. coli also inhibited growth of L. pneumophila, and exhibited a modest increase in Ia expression without change in transferrin receptors. Exudate cells induced by L. monocytogenes exhibited up-regulation of Ia without diminution of superoxide release. Alveolar cells harvested after inhalation of heat-killed L. pneumophila did not differ from resident alveolar macrophages in the expression of surface markers. These findings suggest that alveolar macrophages are immunologically activated in vivo to serve as effector cells in resolving legionellosis, and that live bacteria are required to induce this expression of immunity. The mechanism of resistance to parasitism by L. pneumophila may entail restriction of the intracellular availability of iron, but does not involve diminished bacterial binding or an augmented respiratory burst.