title: Cell surface hydrophobicity and the net electric surface charge of group B streptococci: the role played in the micro-organism-host cell interaction.
abstract: The cell surface hydrophobicity, net electric surface charge and cell adhesion of six group B streptococci strains were assessed. Treatment with trypsin reduced cytoadhesion of the six strains (80340, 90356, 85147, 90222, 90186 and 88641) and induced loss of surface negative charge in the other four strains (80340, 85147, 90222 and 90186). The same treatment increased the surface hydrophobicity of three strains (90356, 90222 and 88641). Neuraminidase treatment caused a decrease in the negative surface charge of all the strains resulting in significant increases in both cytoadhesion and surface hydrophobicity of five (80340, 90356, 85147, 90222 and 88641) and four (90356, 85147, 90222 and 88641) strains, respectively. This indicates that sialic acid residues are important anionogenic groups exposed on the streptococcal cell surface. Treatment of buccal epithelial cells with N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase made them less adherent for most of the strains (80340, 85147, 90222, 90186 and 88641) assayed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009439:Neuraminidase; D014357:Trypsin