The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Interaction of fimbriated and nonfimbriated strains of unencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae with human respiratory tract mucus in vitro

Interaction of fimbriated and nonfimbriated strains of unencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae with human respiratory tract mucus in vitro
Interaction of fimbriated and nonfimbriated strains of unencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae with human respiratory tract mucus in vitro

Adherence to mucus may influence bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract. Clinical isolates of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) from the respiratory tract are often fimbriated. We wondered whether fimbriated strains have a different adherence from related nonfimbriated strains. A microtitre plate assay has been developed to study adherence of nontypable H. influenzae to mucus. Wells were coated by incubation either with sol phase of sterile mucoid secretions or with purified preparations of mucins. Two laboratory pairs of fimbriated (F+) and nonfimbriated (F-) nontypable H. influenzae, and six fresh clinical isolates of fimbriated nontypable H. influenzae each with nonfimbriated partners derived by serial passage on agar, were cultured to mid-log phase, washed, and then added to the wells. They were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min before washing to remove unbound bacteria. Adherent bacteria were desorbed by agitation with 0.5% Tween 80 and a viable count performed. The two fimbriated laboratory strains (n = 12 and n = 17), and 5 of the 6 fimbriated clinical isolates were more adherent to sol phase than their respective nonfimbriated partners. Two nonfimbriated clinical isolates were more adherent to plastic than their fimbriated partners. A fimbriated laboratory strain was more adherent than its nonfimbriated partner both to a purified preparation of high molecular mass mucin and to the glycopeptide fraction of the same. We conclude that fimbriated strains of nontypable H. influenzae have increased adherence to sol phase of mucus and purified human respiratory tract mucin. The interactions of fimbriae with mucus are likely to be complex, and may involve both nonspecific and specific interactions.

Bacterial Adhesion, Fimbriae, Bacterial, Haemophilus influenzae, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Microscopy, Electron, Mucus, Respiratory System, Comparative Study, Journal Article
0903-1936
709-714
Barsum, W.
47079fbb-c38c-4620-958c-0232aa03d4c7
Wilson, R.
94eba368-b33f-4071-beb6-dac98ef23651
Read, R.C.
b5caca7b-0063-438a-b703-7ecbb6fc2b51
Rutman, A.
b06264ba-bff8-4e7b-b3af-868cfe6369e6
Todd, H.C.
02707687-9f39-4a4c-ad8b-3c5476d8a71e
Houdret, N.
c69702aa-7fa1-48e0-abd8-0b03d4b657a6
Roussel, P.
989078a7-47bf-4d5a-81a3-33e6fafe1ab2
Cole, P.J.
8d93f747-e6ed-4557-89ea-e12e0925bbf3
Barsum, W.
47079fbb-c38c-4620-958c-0232aa03d4c7
Wilson, R.
94eba368-b33f-4071-beb6-dac98ef23651
Read, R.C.
b5caca7b-0063-438a-b703-7ecbb6fc2b51
Rutman, A.
b06264ba-bff8-4e7b-b3af-868cfe6369e6
Todd, H.C.
02707687-9f39-4a4c-ad8b-3c5476d8a71e
Houdret, N.
c69702aa-7fa1-48e0-abd8-0b03d4b657a6
Roussel, P.
989078a7-47bf-4d5a-81a3-33e6fafe1ab2
Cole, P.J.
8d93f747-e6ed-4557-89ea-e12e0925bbf3

Barsum, W., Wilson, R., Read, R.C., Rutman, A., Todd, H.C., Houdret, N., Roussel, P. and Cole, P.J. (1995) Interaction of fimbriated and nonfimbriated strains of unencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae with human respiratory tract mucus in vitro. European Respiratory Journal, 8 (5), 709-714.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Adherence to mucus may influence bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract. Clinical isolates of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) from the respiratory tract are often fimbriated. We wondered whether fimbriated strains have a different adherence from related nonfimbriated strains. A microtitre plate assay has been developed to study adherence of nontypable H. influenzae to mucus. Wells were coated by incubation either with sol phase of sterile mucoid secretions or with purified preparations of mucins. Two laboratory pairs of fimbriated (F+) and nonfimbriated (F-) nontypable H. influenzae, and six fresh clinical isolates of fimbriated nontypable H. influenzae each with nonfimbriated partners derived by serial passage on agar, were cultured to mid-log phase, washed, and then added to the wells. They were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min before washing to remove unbound bacteria. Adherent bacteria were desorbed by agitation with 0.5% Tween 80 and a viable count performed. The two fimbriated laboratory strains (n = 12 and n = 17), and 5 of the 6 fimbriated clinical isolates were more adherent to sol phase than their respective nonfimbriated partners. Two nonfimbriated clinical isolates were more adherent to plastic than their fimbriated partners. A fimbriated laboratory strain was more adherent than its nonfimbriated partner both to a purified preparation of high molecular mass mucin and to the glycopeptide fraction of the same. We conclude that fimbriated strains of nontypable H. influenzae have increased adherence to sol phase of mucus and purified human respiratory tract mucin. The interactions of fimbriae with mucus are likely to be complex, and may involve both nonspecific and specific interactions.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: May 1995
Keywords: Bacterial Adhesion, Fimbriae, Bacterial, Haemophilus influenzae, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Microscopy, Electron, Mucus, Respiratory System, Comparative Study, Journal Article

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 416957
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/416957
ISSN: 0903-1936
PURE UUID: 17c174ef-9836-4215-8795-3b9482a63cf5
ORCID for R.C. Read: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4297-6728

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Jan 2018 17:31
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:10

Export record

Contributors

Author: W. Barsum
Author: R. Wilson
Author: R.C. Read ORCID iD
Author: A. Rutman
Author: H.C. Todd
Author: N. Houdret
Author: P. Roussel
Author: P.J. Cole

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×