Wong M C, Ewing E P, Callaway C S, Peacock W L
Infect Immun. 1980 Jun;28(3):1014-8. doi: 10.1128/iai.28.3.1014-1018.1980.
Cell cultures of normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts were inoculated with two strains of Legionella pneumophila, the etiological agent of Legionnaires disease. Large numbers of intact organisms, including many dividing forms, were seen within fibroblasts by light and electron microscopy. Intracellular multiplication of organisms was demonstrated by the progressive increase in bacterial colony counts from plated extracts of infected fibroblast cultures in which extracellular multiplication had been eliminated by bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics. It is evident that L. pneumophila can thrive in an intracellular environment, and this property may be significant in the pathogenesis of Legionnaires disease.
用人正常胚胎肺成纤维细胞培养物接种两株嗜肺军团菌（退伍军人病的病原体）。通过光学显微镜和电子显微镜观察发现，成纤维细胞内有大量完整的生物体，包括许多正在分裂的形态。通过对感染的成纤维细胞培养物的平板提取物进行细菌菌落计数，发现细菌菌落数逐渐增加，从而证明了生物体在细胞内的增殖，其中细胞外增殖已被杀菌浓度的抗生素消除。显然，嗜肺军团菌能够在细胞内环境中生长，这一特性在退伍军人病的发病机制中可能具有重要意义。
