Destruction of Rickettsiae

Activation of Macrophages to Kill Rickettsiae and Leishmania: Dissociation of Intracellular Microbicidal Activities and Extracellular Destruction of Neoplastic and Helminth Targets

“…That these organisms in 1-hr infected cells are in fact viable, and not simply phagocytized dead parasites, is demonstrated in Table V. With a modified plaque assay for Rickettsiae (Nacy and Oaks, 1981), we can demonstrate decreases in infectious R. tsutsugamushi recovered from lysed macrophages that exactly correspond to decreases in percent infected cells. Thus, any viable intracellular rickettsiae present in macrophages at 1 hr are killed by these LK activated cells within 24 hr.…”