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. 1998 Feb;66(2):820-2.
doi: 10.1128/IAI.66.2.820-822.1998.

Adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B)

J E Adamou  1 , T M Wizemann, P Barren, S Langermann
Affiliations

Adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B)

J E Adamou et al. Infect Immun. 1998 Feb.

Abstract

Pneumococcal adherence to alveolar epithelial cells and nasopharyngeal epithelial cells has been well characterized. However, the interaction of Streptococcus pneumoniae with bronchial epithelial cells has not been studied. We have now shown that pneumococci bind specifically to a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B cells). Pneumococci adhered to BEAS-2B cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the bronchial epithelium may serve as an additional site of attachment for pneumococci and demonstrate the utility of the BEAS-2B cell line for studying mechanisms of pneumococcal infection.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Adherence of serotype 14 pneumococci to BEAS-2B (A) and A549 (B) cells. Inset: percent viabilities of BEAS-2B and A549 cells. FITC-labeled serotype 14 pneumococci bound to BEAS-2B (C) or A549 (D) cells at a bacterial cell/epithelial cell ratio of 125:1. Green fluorescent pneumococci can be seen attached to the epithelial cell surface. For contrast, the nucleus of the epithelial cell was stained (red) with propidium iodide. Photographs were taken with a Nikon N6006 camera. Magnification, ×100.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Adherence of serotype 14 pneumococci to BEAS-2B (A) and A549 (B) cells. Inset: percent viabilities of BEAS-2B and A549 cells. FITC-labeled serotype 14 pneumococci bound to BEAS-2B (C) or A549 (D) cells at a bacterial cell/epithelial cell ratio of 125:1. Green fluorescent pneumococci can be seen attached to the epithelial cell surface. For contrast, the nucleus of the epithelial cell was stained (red) with propidium iodide. Photographs were taken with a Nikon N6006 camera. Magnification, ×100.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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