Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Automated, High-Throughput Detection of Bacterial Adherence to Host Cells
Published on: September 17, 2021
Lactobacillus jensenii surface-associated proteins inhibit Neisseria gonorrhoeae adherence to epithelial cells
Rachel R Spurbeck1, Cindy Grove Arvidson
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1101, USA.
Abstract:
High numbers of lactobacilli in the vaginal tract have been correlated with a decreased risk of infection by the sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We have previously shown that Lactobacillus jensenii, one of the most prevalent microorganisms in the healthy human vaginal tract, can inhibit gonococcal adherence to epithelial cells in culture. Here we examined the role of the epithelial cells and the components of L. jensenii involved in the inhibition of gonococcal adherence. L. jensenii inhibited the adherence of gonococci to glutaraldehyde-fixed epithelial cells like it inhibited the adherence of gonococci to live epithelial cells, suggesting that the epithelial cells do not need to be metabolically active for the inhibition to occur. In addition, methanol-fixed L. jensenii inhibited gonococcal adherence to live epithelial cells, indicating that L. jensenii uses a constitutive component to inhibit gonococcal interactions with epithelial cells. Proteinase K treatment of methanol-fixed lactobacilli eliminated the inhibitory effect, suggesting that the inhibitory component contains protein. Released surface components (RSC) isolated from L. jensenii were found to contain at least two inhibitory components, both of which are protease sensitive. Using anion-exchange and size exclusion chromatography, an inhibitory protein which exhibits significant similarity to the enzyme enolase was isolated. A recombinant His6-tagged version of this protein was subsequently produced and shown to inhibit gonococcal adherence to epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner.
More Related Videos
08:04Quantitative Examination of Antibiotic Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Aggregates Using ATP-utilization Commercial Assays and Live/Dead Staining
Published on: February 8, 2019
07:26Metal-Limited Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Characterization of Metal-Responsive Genes and Metal Acquisition from Host Ligands
Published on: March 4, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Surface Membrane Barriers
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...
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments