Abstract
PREVIOUS investigations of the influence of antimicrobial compounds on phagocytosis indicated that polypeptide antibiotics like bacitracin and polymyxin B retarded ingestion of polystyrene latex (PSL) particles or Staphylococcus aureus by guinea-pig polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN)1. Although the levels of antibiotic necessary to produce this inhibition exceeded the therapeutic level for the guinea-pig, it was of interest to discern the mode of action of this peptide on the ingestion process and possibly gain further insight as to the basic mechanism of phagocytosis. This communication embodies some of the evidence for the chelating effect of the peptide and the essential participation of metal ions in phagocytosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Downey, R. J., and Pisano, J. C., J. Reticuloendothelial Soc., 2, 75 (1965).
Garbutt, J. T., Morehouse, A. L., and Hanson, A. M., Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 9, 285 (1961).
Verwey, E. J. W., and Overbeck, J. Th. G., Theory of the Stability of Lyophobic Colloids (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1948).
Wilkins, D. J., and Bangham, A. D., J. Reticuloendothelial Soc., 1, 233 (1964).
Bangham, A. D., and Dawson, R. M. C., Nature, 182, 1292 (1958).
Hodge, H. M., and Metcalfe, S. N., J. Bacteriol., 75, 258 (1958).
Northover, B. J., Nature, 189, 574 (1961).
Weinberg, E. D., Bacteriol. Rev., 21, 46 (1957).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DOWNEY, R., PISANO, J. Effect of Bacitracin on in vitro Phagocytosis. Nature 210, 654–656 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/210654a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/210654a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.