Adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to respiratory epithelial cells is inhibited by sialylated oligosaccharides.

ABSTRACT: To study carbohydrate-mediated adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to the human airway, we measured binding of live S. pneumoniae organisms to a cultured cell line derived from the lining of the conjunctiva and to primary monolayers of human bronchial epithelial cells in the presence and absence of oligosaccharide inhibitors. Both encapsulated and nonencapsulated strains of S. pneumoniae grown to mid-logarithmic phase in suspension culture adhered to cultured primary respiratory epithelial cells and the conjunctival cell line. Adherence of nine clinically prevalent S. pneumoniae capsular types studied was inhibited preferentially by sialylated oligosaccharides that terminate with the disaccharide NeuAc alpha2-3(or 6)Galbeta1. Adherence of some strains also was weakly inhibited by oligosa

SUBMITTER: Barthelson R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC108072 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature