title: Binding of type-III group-B streptococci to buccal epithelial cells.
abstract: A binding assay was used to study the attachment of type-III group-B streptococci (GBS) to buccal epithelial cells. Results indicate that an adhesin, with the characteristics of a protein, is the molecule at the streptococcal cell surface responsible for attachment to the buccal cells. The bacterial adhesin probably recognises a sugar on the surface of the mucosal cell, because periodate oxidation of the buccal cells caused a significant reduction in subsequent adherence of GBS. A sonicate to type-III GBS blocked the binding of the organism to buccal cells. The effects of physical and chemical modifications of the sonicate on its ability to prevent bacterial attachment are described; these corroborate the evidence gained from heat and periodate treatments of the buccal cells and GBS. Results suggest a lectin type of attachment mechanism for type-III BGS which can be blocked by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, rather than attachment by means of a lipoteichoic acid as described for group-A streptococci.
mesh_terms: D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000268:Adhesiveness; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002610:Cheek; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002241:Carbohydrates; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D010504:Periodic Acid; C009900:lipoteichoic acid; C009288:metaperiodate; D000117:Acetylglucosamine