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

Figure 5

((a)–(i)) BCG cords in the cells of granulomas (Gran) obtained from the spleens (S/) of mice after one month (/1 m) and two months (/2 m) following infection with the BCG vaccine in vivo and after ex vivo culture for several days. ((a)–(f) and (l)) Macrophages with BCG-mycobacteria (black arrows) and cords (red arrows). ((e) and (f)) Dendritic cells with BCG-mycobacteria (black asterisks) and BCG cords (red asterisks). (f) A high-contrast photo (e) of BCG-mycobacteria and BCG cords in the cytoplasm of dendritic cells. The same dendritic cell at different levels of sharpness is shown in the black frames. ((j) and (k)) BCG-mycobacteria outside granuloma cells (black snowflakes). (l) The only case when a granuloma macrophage had a vacuole (a black asterisk) with an apoptotic cell containing a mycobacterium. ((a)–(f) and (j)–(l)) Fragments of granulomas. ((h) and (i)) Close-ups of granuloma fragments in the black frames in (g). Acid-fast BCG-mycobacteria after Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Scale bars: 50 μm (g) and 10 μm ((a)–(f) and (h)–(l)).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

(k)

(l)