title: Lactobacillus adhesion to mucus.
abstract: Mucus provides protective functions in the gastrointestinal tract and plays an important role in the adhesion of microorganisms to host surfaces. Mucin glycoproteins polymerize, forming a framework to which certain microbial populations can adhere, including probiotic Lactobacillus species. Numerous mechanisms for adhesion to mucus have been discovered in lactobacilli, including partially characterized mucus binding proteins. These mechanisms vary in importance with the in vitro models studied, which could significantly affect the perceived probiotic potential of the organisms. Understanding the nature of mucus-microbe interactions could be the key to elucidating the mechanisms of probiotic adhesion within the host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, 905 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA. vantass2@illinois.edu
authors.forename: Maxwell L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Van Tassell
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D009077:Mucins / Q000737:chemistry; D009093:Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D019936:Probiotics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009077:Mucins