Modulation of Adhesion of Uropathogenic Enterococcus faecalis to Human Epithelial Cells in vitro by Lactobacillus species

Abstract

The adhesion of relatively hydrophilic Lactobacillus casei GR-1 and relatively hydrophobic Lactobacillus fermentum B-54 to HeLa cells was poor, 0.4 adherent lactobacilli per cell. There was no correlation found between adhesion, zeta potential and hydrophobicity. Adhesion of enterococci, however, was relatively high, varied from strain to strain and appeared to be related to bacterial cell surface hydrophilicity. Aggregation of enterococci was related to cell surface hydrophobicity. Preincubation of the HeLa cells with L. casei GR-1 resulted in 1–2-2–4-fold increased adhesion of 4/5 enterococci (P = 005), possibly due to divalent cation bridging. When the HeLa cells were preincubated with L. fermentum B-54, adhesion of the three hydrophobic strains of enterococci increased by 1–3—2.7 times control levels. Adhesion of the two hydrophilic enterococci strains was either unaffected or inhibited by 40%. Low level coaggregation between enterococci and lactobacilli may increase enterococcal binding to human epithelial cells.

Key Words:

• Lactobacilli
• Enterococci
• Adhesion
• Hydrophobicity
• Epithelium
• Charge