Adherence and hemagglutination ofCorynebacterium group D2

Abstract

Sixty-one strains of Corynebacterium group D2 were examined for their ability to adhere to human uroepithelial cells and to agglutinate human and guinea-pig erythrocytes. Strains were isolated from samples of two origins: urine of bacteriuric patients and healthy skin of patients without urinary infection. In addition, the isolates were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Heavy adherence to the uroepithelial cells but weak hemagglutination were noted. No statistical association was demonstrated between the adherence and the origin of the strains (65.2% of urinary isolates and 80% of healthy skin isolates were adherent). On transmission electron microscopy, a close association was observed between adherent bacteria and cells on thin sections and only few strains were piliated with negative staining. These results do not support a role of adherence as a predictor of pathogenicity of Corynebacterium group D2 which seems to act as an opportunistic pathogen in urinary tract infections.

The lifestyle of Corynebacterium urealyticum derived from its complete genome sequence established by pyrosequencing

“…Taking into consideration a similar functioning of the SpaE subunit of the SpaDEF pilus, adherence of C. urealyticum cells may also occur in the absence of a pilus shaft. This conclusion is consistent with earlier observations that only few C. urealyticum isolates that strongly adhered to uroepithelial cells were piliated during inspection of the bacterial cells by electron microscopy (Marty et al, 1991). Adherence to catheter materials may depend on the hydrophobicity of the cell surface of C. urealytcium that promotes the development of biofilms on solid surfaces (Soriano et al, 1993;Kwaszewska et al, 2006).…”

“…It seems to act as a typical opportunistic pathogen, causing urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients with underlying predisposing factors (Aguado et al, 1987;Duztas et al, 2006). Adherence by C. urealyticum to uroepithelial cells was observed for both, urinary isolates and strains from healthy skin (Marty et al, 1991), and may be mediated by a pilus structure of the SpaDEF type. Adherence of C. diphtheriae to pharyngeal epithelial cells can be mediated also by the minor pilin SpaB of the structurally related SpaABC pilus.…”

“…urealyticum strains isolated from the urine of bacteriuric patients and from the healthy skin of patients without urinary tract infections showed heavy adherence to human uroepithelial cells (Marty et al, 1991). Moreover, C. urealyticum efficiently adhered to intravascular and urinary catheter materials, such as polyvinyl chloride, Teflon and Teflon-coated rubber (Soriano et al, 1993).…”

Clinical description of Corynebacterium urealyticum urinary tract infections in 11 dogs and 10 cats

“…CU has a marked tropism for uroepithelial cells (Marty et al . ). In humans, most CU‐UTIs occur in immunocompromised patients with underlying urological disease and in patients with urological manipulations, previous UTIs, prolonged hospitalisation or after treatment with broad‐spectrum antibiotics (Aguado et al .…”

Adhesion by Pathogenic Corynebacteria

“…Early studies of adhesion used various strains of Corynebacterium to test for autoagglutination, haemagglutination, neuraminidase activity, and trans-sialidase activity (reviewed by Mattos-Guaraldi et al, 2000); however, the mechanisms or proteins responsible for these phenotypes were never established. Similarly, many studies have examined the ability of various clinical isolates to adhere to epithelial cells (Colombo et al, 2001;Deacock et al, 1983;Hirata, et al, 2004;Honda and Yanagawa, 1975;Marty et al, 1991;Moreira et al, 2003;Silva De Souza et al, 2003), but the surface molecule involved remained unknown. One specific surface component of C. diphtheriae that may be involved in adhesion is a lipoglycan called CdiLAM.…”