Mycobacterium-Host Cell Relationships in Granulomatous Lesions in a Mouse Model of Latent Tuberculous Infection

Figure 1

((a)–(i)) BCG-mycobacteria in the cells of granulomas (Gran) obtained from spleens (S/) of mice after one month (/1 m) and two months (/2 m) following infection with BCG in vivo and after ex vivo culture for several days. ((a) and (c)–(j)) Infected macrophages (black arrows) and (e) infected dendritic cells (red arrows). ((a) and (b)) Granulomas with migrating cells. (c) A close-up of the granuloma fragment in the black frame in (b). ((d)–(i)) Fragments of granulomas. ((d) and (f)) Infected multinucleate Langhans giant cells (red arrows). ((g) and (h)) Replicating BCG-mycobacteria in macrophage vacuoles are indicated by black asterisks. ((h) and (i)) Vacuoles with debris of lymphocytes and thrombocytes in infected macrophages are indicated by black snowflakes. ((k) and (l)) Acid-fast (black arrows) and nonacid-fast (red arrows) mycobacteria outside bone marrow and peritoneal macrophages obtained from mice after 20 days (/20 d) and two months (/2 m) following infection with BCG in vivo. Acid-fast BCG-mycobacteria after Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Scale bars: 20 μm (b) and 10 μm ((a) and (c)–(l)).

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