Chapter 3 - Adhesion of Bacteria to Mucosal Surfaces

Abstract

This chapter discusses about bacterial adhesions and their mucosal cell receptors. It also discusses selected postadhesion events and describes how they influence mucosal colonization. The specific binding interaction between the bacterial adhesions and host receptors allows the bacteria to firmly attach to particular sites on the mucosal surfaces and thereby resist dislocation by the hydrokinetic forces that typically act on these surfaces. Adhesion of bacteria to mucosal surfaces is an important determinant of the mucosal colonization—especially in determining its site and density. Several critical postadhesion events are necessary for the bacteria to successfully establish themselves on the mucosal surfaces and to initiate infection. These events include: alterations to the expression of virulence factors by bacteria and induction of physiologic changes on the mucosal surface. The advantages of inhibiting adhesion to prevent the bacterial colonization of mucosal surfaces rely on the assumption that the spread of strains with genotypic resistance to the methods applied are much slower than in the case of employing approaches aimed at killing the organisms.