title: Effect of heavy metals on bacterial adherence.
abstract: A preliminary examination has been made of the effects of salts of heavy metals on bacterial adherence. 3H-thymidine labelled strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from sputa were incubated with human buccal cells and metallic salts. 10(-4)M zinc or iron salts significantly increased adherence of Enterobacteriaceae to human bucal cells in an in-vitro system. These effects were not altered by variation of the buffer system used, and seem dependent upon interactions between metals and bacteria that occur within about 5 minutes.
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc