title: Lectin mediated binding of Streptococcus pyogenes to human oropharyngeal mucosal epithelial cells.
abstract: The study was carried out to determine the role of lectins and sugars in the adhesion of S. pyogenes to human pharyngeal and buccal epithelial cells. In vitro adhesion assay has shown that Con A and Dolicos biflorus lectins inhibited the attachment of S. pyogenes to the oropharyngeal mucosal cells. Among different sugars used, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and D-galactose have significantly blocked the binding of streptococci to PEC and BEC. These findings indicate that lectins and sugar molecules mediate the adhesion of S. pyogenes to the pharyngeal epithelial cells which may be important in the cellular pathogenesis of streptococcal infections which originate at the human oropharyngeal mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, and Cardiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education-and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wahi
mesh_terms: D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000166:cytology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins