Biomaterial Database

Surface components of Bacteroides fragilis involved in adhesion and haemagglutination. 1991

P C Oyston, and P S Handley

Department of Cell and Structural Biology, University of Manchester.

The ability of 19 strains of Bacteroides fragilis to adhere to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) and to the human intestinal cell line HT-29 Clone 19A, and to agglutinate rabbit erythrocytes was compared. Adhesion to BEC was poor compared with that to the cell line. Adhesion to the latter was high for 21% of the strains, moderate for 37% and poor for 42%. Only 53% of the strains agglutinated rabbit red blood cells and only strain A459 did so strongly. Haemagglutination and adhesion of B. fragilis strain A459 were inhibited by sodium periodate, but not by proteases, heat or carbohydrates. These properties were not affected by protease which removed surface appendages. Periodate treatment did not remove the fimbriae or ruthenium red-staining layer, although the capsule was lost. This suggests that carbohydrate residues on the cell surface, possibly forming part of the capsule, are involved in adhesion and haemagglutination by this strain.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009077	Mucins	High molecular weight mucoproteins that protect the surface of EPITHELIAL CELLS by providing a barrier to particulate matter and microorganisms. Membrane-anchored mucins may have additional roles concerned with protein interactions at the cell surface.	Mucin
D010450	Endopeptidases	A subclass of PEPTIDE HYDROLASES that catalyze the internal cleavage of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS.	Endopeptidase,Peptide Peptidohydrolases
D010504	Periodic Acid	A strong oxidizing agent.	Paraperiodic Acid,Periodic Acid (HIO4),Periodic Acids,Acid, Paraperiodic,Acid, Periodic,Acids, Periodic
D010861	Fimbriae, Bacterial	Thin, hairlike appendages, 1 to 20 microns in length and often occurring in large numbers, present on the cells of gram-negative bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae and Neisseria. Unlike flagella, they do not possess motility, but being protein (pilin) in nature, they possess antigenic and hemagglutinating properties. They are of medical importance because some fimbriae mediate the attachment of bacteria to cells via adhesins (ADHESINS, BACTERIAL). Bacterial fimbriae refer to common pili, to be distinguished from the preferred use of "pili", which is confined to sex pili (PILI, SEX).	Bacterial Fimbriae,Bacterial Pili,Common Fimbriae,Common Pili,Pili, Bacterial,Pili, Common,Bacterial Fimbria,Bacterial Pilus,Common Fimbria,Common Pilus,Fimbria, Bacterial,Pilus, Bacterial,Fimbria, Common,Fimbriae, Common,Pilus, Common
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002610	Cheek	The part of the face that is below the eye and to the side of the nose and mouth.	Bucca,Buccas,Cheeks
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D006384	Hemagglutination	The aggregation of ERYTHROCYTES by AGGLUTININS, including antibodies, lectins, and viral proteins (HEMAGGLUTINATION, VIRAL).	Hemagglutinations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001422	Bacterial Adhesion	Physicochemical property of fimbriated (FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL) and non-fimbriated bacteria of attaching to cells, tissue, and nonbiological surfaces. It is a factor in bacterial colonization and pathogenicity.	Adhesion, Bacterial,Adhesions, Bacterial,Bacterial Adhesions