Adherence of haemophilus influenzae to human epithelial cells

Janet R. Gilsdorf, Patricia Ferrieri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Haemophilus influenzae organisms, both type b and non-typable strains, were tested for their adherence to human buccal epithelial cells. Adherence was determined by visual examination of gram-stained specimens of epithelial cells following incubation with H. influenzae. Among 36 isolates tested, 2 organisms adhered well to buccal cells; a type b nasopharyngeal isolate showed a mean of 19.94 bacteria per cell and a non-typable throat isolate showed a mean of 37.72 bacteria per cell. These isolates readily hemagglutinated human red blood cells. None of the other 12 type b blood or spinal fluid isolates tested adhered well (range 0.04-1.34 bacteria per cell) nor hemagglutinated red cells. There was no difference in the adherence of H. influenzae to buccal mucosal cells from 6 donors, and no difference between epithelial cells obtained from the buccal or nasal mucosa. Although both type b and non-typable H. influenzae strains appear capable of adhering to human epithelial cells, many strains do not. The role of adherence factors in the maintenance of mucosal colonization with these poorly-adherent strains remains unknown.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)271-278
Number of pages8
JournalScandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported by the Minnesota Medical Foundation and Tkaining Grant AI-07054 from the National Institutes of Health. Dr Ferrieri was supported in part by grant AI-13926 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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