ADHERENCE OF AEROMONAS-CAVIAE TO HUMAN CELL-LINES HEP-2 AND CACO-S

Adherence of Aeromonas caviae to HEp-2 and Caco-2 cell monolayers was investigated with 24 clinical isolates. Growth phase, temperature, mul tiplicity of infection and length of incubation affected adherence. Tr eatment of the bacteria with trypsin, sodium metaperiodate, mechanical shearing and the addition of cytochalasin B and cycloheximide to the monolayer significantly reduced the adherence capabilities of the stra ins investigated, The use of chloramphenicol to inhibit protein synthe sis reduced the adhesive capabilities of bacteria grown in liquid medi um and those subjected to mechanical shearing. Light microscopy, scann ing and transmission electron microscopy were employed in the investig ation of bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-monolayer interactions and ind icated similarities with the aggregative adherence patterns of the Ent erobacteriaceae, The presence of extracellular bacterial appendages an d their correlation with increased adhesive capacity may indicate a ro le in the process of adherence.