ADHERENCE OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE TO HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS (BEAS-2B)

Pneumococcal adherence to alveolar epithelial cells and nasopharyngeal epithelial cells has been well characterized. However, the interactio n of Streptococcus pneumoniae with bronchial epithelial cells has not been studied. We have now shown that pneumococci bind specifically to a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B cells). Pneumococci ad hered to BEAS-2B cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. These resu lts suggest that the bronchial epithelium may serve as an additional s ite of attachment for pneumococci and demonstrate the utility of the B EAS-2B cell line for studying mechanisms of pneumococcal infection.