Bacterial adhesion. An important pathogenetic factor
Andersen, B.M.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 110(12): 1534-1538
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 2187275 Document Number: 349618
Bacterial adherence is usually the first step of an infection. Bacteria bind to receptors on cell surfaces by different adhesins like fimbriae, fibrillae or lipoteichoic acid. The reseptors may be glucolipids, with sugar molecules like galactose (Gal-Gal), and present on the mucosa of the urinary tractus. Other receptors are glucoproteins or fibronectin. Important non-specific receptors are foreign material or implants in the body. Symptoms of infection generally occur from bacteria that are a) only adherent, b) adherent and toxin producing, or c) adherent and then invasive. Urogenital, gastrointestinal or respiratory tract infections are often caused by adherent bacteria. Adherent bacteria may also play an important role in infections of newborns. Invasive bacteria seem to be able to switch off their adhesins, or cover them by capsulae or human proteins, when such is necessary in order to escape human defendence mechanisms.