Ultrastructure and image processing of bacterial abscesses

Abstract

We studied the cell surface of bacteria in host cells to understand the appearance of oral infectious diseases using the LUZEX-FS image processor-analyzer. Bacteria were sampled from patients with closed dentoalveolar abscesses. Gram positive and negative bacteria were observed in almost all of the abscesses used. Bacterial occupation in host cell sections was 16.7 to 27.4%, and all bacterial cells were observed in phagosomes of the host cells. Bacteria occupied 24 to 43% or the total area. A bacterial capsule was often observed on the surface of Gram negative bacteria. Vesicles originating from the outer membrane of Gram negative bactiria were about 6.lnm^2 in area. The total lysosome area occupied about 22% of the host cell cross sectional area. We confirmed that bacterial cell surface-structures could be observed in host cell samples from oral infections