Lack of Enhanced Oxygen Consumption by Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes on Phagocytosis of Virulent Salmonella typhi

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes exhibit an enhanced rate of oxygen consumption during phagocytosis of relatively avirulent strains of Salmonella typhi or Staphylococcus aureus. However, phagocytosis of a virulent strain of Salmonella typhi is not associated with augmented oxygen consumption. The ability of a bacterial strain to alter the postphagocytic rate of oxyten consumption of polymorphonuclear leukocytes may be related to its in vivo virulence.