ADHESIVENESS OF BACILLUS-SUBTILIS STRAINS TO EPITHELIAL-CELLS CULTURED IN-VITRO

The use of pharmaceutical preparations containing spores of Bacillus s ubtilis or other bacterial species in the treatment and prophylaxis of intestinal disorders associated with antibiotic therapy or diarrhoea of various origin is widespread and has been supported by encouraging results. However, the mechanism by which such an action is manifested ill vivo is still not well defined. We carried out a study using B. su btilis spores present in a commercial preparation and treated in vitro , to mimic physiological conditions following oral consumption. Tests were carried out to evaluate the capacity of microorganisms to colonis e the surface of eukaryotic (Caco-2 and HEp-2) cells. The bacteria wer e assayed both in the spored phase, and following stimulation of germi nation by exposure to low pH values (as in the case of gastric juice) or again with exposure to high temperatures. B. subtilis adhered to th e surface of the eukaryotic cells, the degree of adhesion varying in r elation to the different physiological phases of the bacterial cell.