title: The adhesin structures involved in the adherence of group B streptococci to human vaginal cells.
abstract: The adherence of group B streptococci (GBS) of serotypes Ia, II and III to human vaginal cells was studied in vitro. The adherence was not dependent on the viability of bacteria; killing of GBS by UV irradiation or glutaraldehyde treatment did not inhibit the adherence. Killing of GBS by heating to 56 degrees C for 1 h led to a pronounced decrease of adherence, demonstrating the thermosensitivity of the GBS structures involved. The protein nature of these structures was proved by a significant reduction of adherence after pretreatment of GBS with trypsin or pepsin. Pretreatment of GBS with sialidase had no influence on the adherence. Such a pretreatment of vaginal cells caused an increase of adherence showing that the receptors on epithelial cells may be partly masked by sialic acid.
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D009439:Neuraminidase; D014357:Trypsin; D010434:Pepsin A; D005976:Glutaral