Aggregative adherence of Klebsiella pneumoniae to human intestine-407 cells.
Aggregative adhesion of Klebsiella pneumoniae LM3 to Intestine-407 (Int-407) cells was studied. Adhesive capacities were affected by the bacterial growth phase (with a maximum of adherence obtained during the exponential phase), temperature, multiplicity of infection, and length of incubation with Int-407 cells. Adhesion occurred through a cytochalasin D-sensitive process and was greatly reduced after treatment of Int-407 with cycloheximide, indicating that aggregative adhesion requires active participation of Int-407 cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that adherent bacteria were surrounded by a capsule-like material, apparently involved in both bacterium-Int-407 cell and bacterium-bacterium adherence. Examination with a scanning electron microscope showed interactions of intestinal cell microvilli with bacteria and formation in 3 h of a fibrous network within and around the bacterial clusters. We speculate that aggregative adhesion of K. pneumoniae mediated by a capsule-like extracellular material might explain the persistence of these strains inside the host gastrointestinal tract.
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Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Darfeuille-Michaud
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Forestier
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D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013696:Temperature
D015638:Cytochalasin D; D003513:Cycloheximide