[Electron microscopic data on the action of Yersinia pestis bacterial toxin on phagocytosis]. / Elektronno-mikroskopicheskie dannye o deistvii toksina bakterii Yersinia pestis na fagotsitoz.

Electron-microscopic study of the interaction of Y. pestis and peritoneal phagocytes obtained from BALB mice, both intact and treated with the toxic fraction of Y. pestis, has revealed that in the process of phagocytosis the toxin weakens the killing and degradation phases of these bacteria, but leaves the ingestion activity of phagocytes unchanged. The process of phagocytosis in mice exposed to toxin is accompanied by destructive changes of cells and redistribution of myeloperoxidase, a bactericidal enzyme, in polymorphonuclear leukocytes without any signs of bacterial degradation.