Physical stress and bacterial colonization

• Published in: FEMS microbiology reviews Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 1250 - 1270
• Main Author: Otto, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2014; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: adhesion; Bacteria; Bacterial Adhesion - physiology; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Colonization; Escherichia coli; Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Respiratory System - microbiology; Skin - microbiology; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Stress, Physiological; Urinary Tract - microbiology; adhesion; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Streptococcus; Helicobacter pylori; Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus
• ISSN: 0168-6445; 1574-6976; 1574-6976
• DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12088

Abstract Bacterial surface colonizers are subject to a variety of physical stresses. During the colonization of human epithelia such as on the skin or the intestinal mucosa, bacteria mainly have to withstand the mechanical stress of being removed by fluid flow, scraping, or epithelial turnover. To that end, they express a series of molecules to establish firm attachment to the epithelial surface, such as fibrillar protrusions (pili) and surface-anchored proteins that bind to human matrix proteins. In addition, some bacteria – in particular gut and urinary tract pathogens – use internalization by epithelial cells and other methods such as directed inhibition of epithelial turnover to ascertain continued association with the epithelial layer. Furthermore, many bacteria produce multilayered agglomerations called biofilms with a sticky extracellular matrix, providing additional protection from removal. This review will give an overview over the mechanisms human bacterial colonizers have to withstand physical stresses with a focus on bacterial adhesion. Bacterial colonizers of human epithelia have a series of means to withstand mechanical removal and other physical stresses, which include in particular surface-attached binding proteins that interact with human matrix components. Bacterial colonizers of human epithelia have a series of means to withstand mechanical removal and other physical stresses, which include in particular surface-attached binding proteins that interact with human matrix components.