Interaction between caprine macrophages and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis: An electron microscopic study

SUMMARY Caprine mammary gland macrophages were infected with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis , and the results were observed, using the electron microscope. Fusion of macrophage lysosomes occurred with phagosomes containing bacteria. Despite this, the C pseudotuberculosis survived within the phagolysosome and the macrophages did not survive. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that the lipid coat of C pseudotuberculosis allows it to survive the killing and degradative mechanisms of caprine macrophages.