Open AccessAdhesion of group B Streptococcus to a polyethylene intrauterine contraceptive device
Author(s) -
Jacques Mario,
Costerton J.William
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02135.x
Subject(s) - adhesion , chemistry , bovine serum albumin , streptococcus , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , lipoteichoic acid , biology , bacteria , organic chemistry , genetics , staphylococcus aureus
Adhesion of a group B Streptococcus isolate to an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) made of polyethylene was investigated. Cells killed by formaldehyde, extracted with hot aqueous phenol or pretreated with proteolytic enzymes were significantly ( P < 0.001) less adhesive than untreated cells. Adhesion was inhibited by human plasma fibronectin and bovine serum albumin but not by wheat germ agglutinin. Our data suggest that adhesion of group B Streptococcus to polyethylene might involve a protein‐lipid complex consisting of non‐fibrillar surface proteins and cellular lipoteichoic acids.