Persistence of Acholeplasma laidlawii in an established cell line RL 19. 1. Host-parasite morphology.

ABSTRACT

The cell-parasite relationship of epitheloid cells from the established liver cell line RL 19 persistently infected with Acholeplasma laidlawii was studied by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The predominantly filamentous, branched A. laidlawii were arranged horizontally on the cell surface between microvilli at the cell margin. The cell adhesion, spreading, growth pattern and cell surface shape were not altered in relation to uninfected cultures of the same cell line.