Open AccessRole of pili in adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to mammalian buccal epithelial cells
Author(s) -
Donald E. Woods,
David C. Straus,
W. G. Johanson,
V. K. Berry,
Joseph A. Bass
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.29.3.1146-1151.1980
Subject(s) - pilus , pseudomonas aeruginosa , microbiology and biotechnology , antiserum , heterologous , biology , buccal swab , buccal administration , in vitro , epithelium , fimbria , proteases , respiratory tract , bacteria , respiratory system , immunology , antigen , escherichia coli , biochemistry , anatomy , pharmacology , genetics , gene , enzyme
Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms to the upper respiratory epithelium of seriously ill patients in vitro is correlated with subsequent colonization of the respiratory tract by this opportunistic pathogen. The role of pili in the attachment to epithelial cells of P. aeruginosa was studied in an in vitro system employing human buccal epithelial cells and P. aeruginosa pretreated by various means. Pretreatment of the bacteria with proteases, heat, or Formalin caused a significant decrease in adherence. A decrease when compared with controls was also noted in the adherence of P. aeruginosa organisms to buccal epithelial cells preincubated with purified pili prepared from the strain used for adherence testing; however, pili prepared from a heterologous strain failed to block adherence. Similar results were obtained in serological studies when antisera to purified pili prepared from the strain used for adherence testing decreased adherence, whereas heterologous antiserum to pili did not decrease adherence. From these results it appears that pili mediate the adherence of P. aeruginosa organisms to human buccal epithelial cells.