In vitro adhesion to human cells by viable but nonculturable Enterococcus faecalis |
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| Authors: | Pruzzo Carla Tarsi Renato Lleò Maria Mar Signoretto Caterina Zampini Massimiliano Colwell Rita R Canepari Pietro |
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| Institution: | (1) Istituto di Microbiologia, Università di Ancona, via Ranieri Monte d'Ago, 60131 Ancona, Italy, Dipartimento di Patologia, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA, US |
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| Abstract: | The ability of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) Enterococcus faecalis to adhere to Caco-2 and Girardi heart cultured cells and to urinary tract epithelial cells (ECs) was studied. Enterococci
were harvested during the vegetative growth phase (early exponential and stationary), in the VBNC state, and after recovery
of the ability to divide. VBNC bacteria maintained their adherence capability but the efficiency of attachment was reduced
by about 50 to 70%, depending on the target cell employed. The decrease was transient, since enterococci that regained their
culturability showed adherence values similar to those observed for actively growing cells. Analysis of the invasive properties
of E. faecalis revealed that the VBNC state caused a decrease in the number of bacteria that entered the cultured HEK cells as a result
of the reduction in the number of adhering bacteria. These results highlight the importance of studies of the VBNC phenomenon,
with respect to both microbial survival in the environment and the impact on human health.
Received: 26 September 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001 |
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