MULTIPLICATION OF LEGIONELLA-PNEUMOPHILA IN HELA-CELLS IN THE PRESENCE OF CYTOSKELETON AND METABOLIC-INHIBITORS

A study has been carried out on the action of cytoskeleton and metabol ic inhibitors on intracellular multiplication in HeLa cells of a virul ent strain of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6, The effects of the s ubstances were separately tested on both penetration and intracellular multiplication of L. pneumophila, Only cytochalasin A and 2-deoxy-D-g lucose (2dG) affected bacterial internalisation, whereas intracellular multiplication was inhibited by cytochalasins A, B, C, D and J (D bei ng the most active) and by 2dG with a dose-response effect. The action of 2dG was counteracted by 50 mM glucose. Experiments carried out wit h cytochalasin D and a rhodamine-phalloidin conjugate showed the invol vement of cytoskeletal elements in intracellular multiplication of Leg ionella; compounds acting on microtubules had no effect.