Role of phospholipase-associated penetration mechanism in cell injury by Rickettsia rickettsii.

The cholesterol receptor-binding drugs amphotericin B and digitonin reduced rickettsial plaque formation, presumably by blocking rickettsial attachment, even when added to the plaque model on day 4 post-inoculation when infected foci were well established. The phospholipase inhibitor phentermine reduced plaque formation, presumably by inhibiting the phospholipase-associated entry step of penetration.