ADHERENCE OF HEMAGGLUTINATING STREPTOCOCCI OF SEROLOGICAL GROUP-B TO ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES OF RABBITS

In this study, selected haemagglutination-positive and haemagglutinati on-negative streptococci of serological group B were investigated in H eLa-cell- and alveolar-macrophage adherence tests. The cultures, isola ted from bovine milk samples, had been previously serotyped and furthe r characterized. All haemagglutination-positive group B streptococci a dhered in high numbers to HeLa cells and alveolar-macrophages of rabbi ts. Haemagglutination-negative group B streptococci showed no comparab le adherence. The adherence to alveolar-macrophages of rabbits was fur ther characterized. This adherence appeared to be time- and temperatur e-dependent and could be inhibited by heat or proteolytic treatment of the bacteria. After opsonization oi che bacteria, an adherence to alv eolar-macrophages could also be observed for haemagglutination-negativ e group B streptococci, indicating a separate adherence mechanism. The group B streptococcal adherence might represent an important prerequi site for invasion and possibly intracellular survival of this bacteria l species.