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Adherence in the colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the nasopharynx in children

C Lundberg, J Lönnroth, C E Nord

    Infection
    |January 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Streptococcus pneumoniae preferentially adheres to mucus-bound cells in children

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Pediatrics
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant pathogen in pediatric respiratory infections.
    • Understanding bacterial adherence is crucial for preventing nasopharyngeal colonization.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the adherence patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae to different epithelial cell types in the nasopharynx of children.
    • To assess the role of mucus in bacterial colonization.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized FITC-labelled anti-sera and Omni-serum for specific S. pneumoniae detection.
    • Employed acridine orange counterstaining to visualize other bacteria.
    • Collected epithelial cells from mucus and nasopharyngeal surfaces (soft palate, adenoids).

    Main Results:

    • S. pneumoniae showed higher adherence to desquamated cells within mucus compared to squamous nasopharyngeal cells.
    • No bacterial attachment was observed on ciliated or metaplastic adenoid cells.
    • Observed instances of ecological shifts where S. pneumoniae dominated bacterial populations, with free-floating bacteria in mucus.

    Conclusions:

    • Desquamated cells in mucus serve as a primary attachment site for Streptococcus pneumoniae in the pediatric nasopharynx.
    • Specific epithelial cell types influence bacterial colonization dynamics.
    • Ecological shifts can favor S. pneumoniae dominance in the nasopharyngeal environment.

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