Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells
05:57

In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells

Published on: May 16, 2011

Adhesion of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus to human intestinal mucus

Nicole J Pultz1, Satu Vesterlund, Arthur C Ouwehand

  • 1Research Section, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.

Current Microbiology
|February 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) can adhere to intestinal mucus. However, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG shows higher affinity, suggesting it may displace VREF colonization.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The intestinal mucus layer is a potential colonization niche for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF).
  • Understanding VREF's interaction with mucus is crucial for developing strategies to prevent its colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the adherence of VREF strains to human intestinal mucus.
  • To determine the binding kinetics of VREF to mucus.
  • To compare VREF adherence with that of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

Main Methods:

  • Six VREF strains were tested for adherence to immobilized human intestinal mucus.
  • Binding kinetics were analyzed to determine maximum adherence and affinity.
  • A Salmonella typhimurium-negative control strain and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG were used for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Four out of six (67%) VREF strains showed significant adhesion to mucus, though at low levels compared to L. rhamnosus GG.
  • The maximum number of VREF adhering to mucus was similar to or higher than L. rhamnosus GG.
  • L. rhamnosus GG exhibited a 20- to 130-fold higher affinity for mucus than VREF strains.

Conclusions:

  • VREF strains possess the ability to adhere to human intestinal mucus.
  • L. rhamnosus GG demonstrates significantly higher affinity for mucus than VREF.
  • L. rhamnosus GG may have the potential to displace VREF from the intestinal mucus layer.

More Related Videos

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion09:22

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

Published on: July 3, 2026

Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates08:32

Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...