When grown in the presence of Matrigel, monolayers of an immortalized human microvascular cell line (HMEC-1) form capillary-like microtubule networks. Previous work, using HMEC-1 monolayers, demonstrated a significant difference in in vitro cytotoxicity between Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF)-associated Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (HAE) strains and non-BPF-associated HAE strains. The present study demonstrates that BPF-related cytotoxic differences can also be observed in HMEC-1 microtubule networks. At a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2 x 10(-2) bacteria/tissue culture cell, BPF-associated strain F3031 disrupted the microtubule network, producing random clumps of rounded cells at 48 h of incubation. Infection with non-BPF-associated strain F1947 at the same MOI produced no observable microtubule disruption. The ability of HMEC-1 microtubule model to differentiate virulent and avirulent HAE in vitro will further aid in the study of BPF pathogenesis. In addition, the fact that the HMEC-1 cells can be induced to form microtubules make it an excellent model system for the general study of many of the agents of vascular purpura.