Morphological destruction of cultured cells by the attachment of Treponema pallidum. Issue 1 (February 1982)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fitzgerald, T J; Repesh, L A; Oakes, S G
• Is Part Of: Sexually transmitted infections. Volume 58:Issue 1(1982)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 1982-02
• Subjects: Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.951005
• DOI: 10.1136/sti.58.1.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4973

Abstract

Abstract : The incubation of Treponema pallidum with rabbit testicular cells, HEP-2 cells, human foreskin cells, rat cardiac cells, and rat skeletal muscle cells caused morphological disruption of these cultured cells. Control preparations of heat-inactivated treponemes, a high-speed supernatant in which treponemes had been pelleted, and culture medium failed to damage the tissue cells, as did viable treponemes when the cells were incubated in inverted Sykes-Moore chambers. Thus, cellular disruption is not associated with soluble treponemal, soluble inflammatory, or soluble testicular constituents but is mediated by the specific attachment of T pallidum. This organism apparently elaborates some type of toxic activity that lyses membranes: this may explain some of the histopathology of syphilitic disease.