title: In vivo attachment of group A streptococci to tonsillar epithelium during acute tonsillitis.
abstract: The attachment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) to the tonsillar epithelium during current acute tonsillitis (AT) was studied by means of fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy in 5 patients. Conventional cultures from the tonsils showed massive growth of GABHS and tonsillar epithelial cells were heavily infested with GABHS, which proved positive for FITC-labelled antibodies against beta-hemolytic streptococci. The bacteria were firmly attached to the epithelial cell membranes by cell projections, which grasped the microorganisms from various directions. A 24 h course of oral treatment with phenoxymethylpenicillin radically affected bacterial adherence to the epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tromsö, Norway.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Stenfors
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Räisänen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rantala
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000502:physiology*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D010404:Penicillin V