Abstract
Previous studies have provided evidence that bacterial aggregation occurs in disease processes. In the present report, an assay system was used to demonstrate bacterial aggregation and coaggregation in vitro. The results showed that uropathogens aggregated in urine and saline and formed aggregates attached to uroepithelial cells. The presence of fimbriae and O, K, and H antigens on the cell surface did not appear to correlate with aggregation. Additional studies related to intraabdominal sepsis showed aggregation of aBacteroides fragilis strain and coaggregation betweenBacteroides fragilis andEscherichia coli, suggestive of in vivo interaction. Electron microscopy demonstrated the various aggregation reactions and was particularly effective in showing type 1 fimbriatedEscherichia coli coaggregating with theBacteroides fragilis. The ability of organisms to aggregate and coaggregate appears to have potential significance in health and disease.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Blake M, Rotstein O, Llano M, Girotti, M, and Reid G (1989) Aggregation by fragilis and non-fragilisBacteroides strainsin vitro. J Med Microbiol 28:9–14
Bruce AW, Chan RCY, Pinkerton D, Chadwick P, Morales A (1983) Adherence of Gram-negative urinary pathogens to human uroepithelial cells. J Urol 130:293–298
Bruce AW, Reid G, Chan RCY, and Costerton JW (1984) Bacterial adherence in the human ileal conduit: a morphological and bacteriological study. J Urol 132:184–188
Costerton JW, Cheng K-J, Geesey GG, Ladd TI, Nickel JC, Dasgupta M, Marrie TJ (1987) Bacterial biofilms in nature and disease. Annu Rev Microbiol 41:435–464
Ellen RP, Schwarz-Faulkner S, Grove DA (1988) Coaggregation among periodontal pathogens, emphasizingBacteroides gingivalis—Actinomyces viscosus cohesion on a salivacoated mineral surface. Can J Microbiol 34:299–306
Gristina AG (1987) Biomaterial-centered infection: microbial adhesion versus tissue integration. Science 237:1588–1595
McLean RJC, Nickel JC, Cheng K-J, Costerton JW (1988) The ecology and pathogenicity of urease-producing bacteria in the urinary tract. CRC Crit Rev 16:37–79
Nickel JC, Reid G, Bruce AW, Costerton JW (1986) Ultrastructural microbiology of infected urinary stone. Urology 28:512–515
Reid G (1989) Local and diffuse bacterial adherence on uroepithelial cells. Curr Microbiol 18:93–97
Reid G, Sobel JD (1987) Bacterial adherence in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection: a review. Rev Infect Dis 9:470–487
Reid G, Brooks HJL (1984) In vitro attachment ofE. coli to human epithelial cells. NZ Med J 97:439–442
Reid G, Zorzitto ML, Bruce AW, Jewett MAS, Chan RCY, Costerton JW (1984) Pathogenesis of urinary tract infection in the elderly: the role of bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells. Curr Microbiol 11:67–72
Reid G, Hawthorn LA, Mandatori R, Cook RL, Beg HS (1988) Adhesion of lactobacilli to polymer surfacesin vivo andin vitro. Microb Ecol, 16:241–251
Reid G, McGroarty JA, Angotti R, Cook RL (1988) Lactobacillus inhibitor production againstEscherichia coli and coaggregation ability with uropathogens. Can J Microbiol 34:344–351
Rotstein O, Pruett TL, Wells CL, Simmons RL (1987) The role ofBacteroides encapsulation in the lethal synergy betweenEscherichia coli andBacteroides species studied in a rat fibrin clot peritonitis model. J Infect 15:135–146
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reid, G., Bruce, A.W., Llano, M. et al. Bacterial aggregation in sepsis. Current Microbiology 20, 185–190 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02091995
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02091995