Bacterial Binding, Phagocytosis, and Killing Capacity: Measurements Using Colony Forming Units

Kyle E Novakowski; Dessi Loukov; Dawn M E Bowdish

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-3338-0_1

Bacterial Binding, Phagocytosis, and Killing Capacity: Measurements Using Colony Forming Units

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2692:1-13. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3338-0_1.

Authors

Kyle E Novakowski¹, Dessi Loukov¹, Dawn M E Bowdish²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
² Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. bowdish@mcmaster.ca.

PMID: 37365457
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3338-0_1

Abstract

Herein, we provide a colony forming unit (CFU)-based counting method for quantitating the bacterial binding, phagocytosis, and killing capacity of phagocytes. Although these functions can be measured by immunofluorescence- and dye-based assays, quantitating CFUs are comparatively inexpensive and easy to perform. The protocol described below is easily modified for use with different phagocytes (e.g., macrophages, neutrophils, cell lines), types of bacteria, or opsonic conditions.

Keywords: Bacterial killing; Gentamicin protection; Macrophage; Particle binding; Phagocyte; Phagocytosis.

MeSH terms

Bacteria
Macrophages* / metabolism
Neutrophils / microbiology
Phagocytes
Phagocytosis*
Stem Cells