Stimulation and inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocytes phagocytosis by lipoamino acids isolated from Serratia marcescens

The role of the lipoamino acids (serratamolide and ornithine lipid), membrane lipid components of Serratia marcescens, was examined in phagocytosis and phagosome‐lysosome fusion of human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes. A mutant strain of Serratia marcescens (NS 38‐09) lacking serratamolide was actively phagocytosed by human PMN, while the wild‐type strain (NS 38) producing serratamolide was more resistant to phagocytosis by human PMN. Phagocytosis of killed Staphylococcus aureus coated with lipoamino acid (serratamolide), showed that they were more resistant to phagocytosis by PMN, while the cells coated with ornithine lipid or serratamic acid were phagocytosed more actively. Staphylococci coated with phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylglycerol had no significant effect on phagocytosis by PMN. Phagosome‐lysosome fusion by PMN labelled with acridine orange was examined by fluorescence microscopy. The fusion indices of lipoamino acid‐coated staphylococci were the same as that of controls. Further, ornithine lipid‐coated staphylococci stimulated the release of superoxide anion from PMN slightly, but serratamolide did not. These results suggested that serratamolide may contribute to the virulence of S. marcescens in vitro.