Abstract: | The process of attachment of Mycoplasma hominis and M. orale to HAIN-55 cells, derived from normal embryonic human lung, was investigated quantitatively. The attachment reached its maximum within about 2–4 hr at 37 C and increased linearly as a function of the number of organisms present in the system. The relative attachment efficiency of M. hominis was approximately 1% under our experimental conditions. Trypsin and EDTA were effective in detaching particles of M. hominis and M. orale from the surfaces of HAIN-55 cells. Therefore it was suggested that some proteinaceous substance and salt bridges might be involved in the attachment of these mycoplasmas to HAIN-55 cells. |