Glucose requirements of L cells infected with Chlamydia psittaci

Abstract

Strain 929 mouse fibroblast L cells were found to consume about twice the normal amount of glucose when infected by the 6BC strain of the psittacosis agent. This was accompanied by an increase in lactic acid production. In addition, the yield of psittacosis organisms was related to the availability of glucose in the tissue culture medium when other constituents were held constant. Under conditions of limiting glucose, the addition of NAD or NADP improved the yield of psittacosis organisms. These results were discussed in relation to the energy parasite concept of chlamydial parasitism.