Elucidation of the phagocytosis mechanism with the aid of luminous bacteria.

Phagocytosis of the luminous bacterium Vibrio cholerae var. albensis caused a similar decrease both in viable count and in the in-vivo luminescence. These effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) were oxygen-dependent processes. Exposure of PMN to oxygen caused a prompt decrease in the luminescence of bacteria that had been ingested in anaerobic conditions. Cell-free supernates from active PMN suspensions caused a decrease in luminescence and as much as 10% of the killing could be attributed to extracellular killing. Similarly, bacteria entrapped on a membrane filter showed a decrease in luminescence upon addition of active PMN, even though they could not be ingested.