Degradation of Chlamydia trachomatis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: an ultrastructural study of peroxidase-positive phagolysosomes.

We have previously shown that human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) killed organisms belonging to both human biovars of Chlamydia trachomatis. However, the mechanism of destruction was still unclear. We therefore conducted an ultrastructural and cytochemical study to investigate the mechanism of chlamydial degradation. PMNs were inoculated with the trachoma serovar B (B/TW-5/OT) or with the lymphogranuloma venereum serovar L2 (L2/434/Bu) for 15, 30, 60, or 120 min and then fixed and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Diaminobenzidine, a cytochemical marker, was used to demonstrate the localization of intracellular peroxidase. Ultrastructural evidence is presented showing the progressive degradation of chlamydiae over a 2-h period within peroxidase-positive phagolysosomes. Pretreatment of organisms with normal or immune serum was not required for the process of degradation.