USE OF ULTRASOUND TO INCREASE INFECTION OF MCCOY CELL MONOLAYERS BY CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS STRAIN

An ultrasound cell disrupter with a cooled cup tip was used to increase rapidly Chlamydia trachomatis infection in vitro. After three growth cycles of the NI-1 strain (serovar E), the pulsed ultrasound use enhanced the number of infected McCoy cells by approximately 12-times, as compared with control; and 8·8-times over the shaking with glass beads and centrifugation technique. After three growth cycles of the fast-growing LB-1 strain (serovar L2), the enhancement was by 15 and 10·8 respectively. Consequently, ultrasound treatment with a cooled cup tip can offer a working standard procedure to increase rapidly the number of cells infected with Chlamydia. © 1991.