Cell Adhesion Assay to Study Leptospiral Proteins: An Approach to Investigate Host-Pathogen Interaction

The adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to host cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is considered an important step in the pathogenesis of microorganisms. It has been described that Leptospira spp. bind to multiple receptors on host cells and to the ECM to initiate infection. Most studies of Leptospira adherence described until now have focused on the in vitro attachment of recombinant L. interrogans proteins to ECM components. These putative adhesins may be involved in the colonization of the host, contributing to the bacterial invasion process. Certainly, in vitro cell adhesion studies have contributed to the elucidation of leptospiral pathogenesis mechanisms. Here, we describe a cell adhesion assay that can be used for studying the interactions between putative leptospiral adhesins and host components.