Adherence of group A streptococci to epithelial cells in tissue culture.

Abstract

Using the HEp-2 cell line system the factors and mechanisms of group A Streptococcus adherence had been studied. It was shown that high adherence was chiefly found in strains showing attributes of virulence (presence of M protein, growth in human blood, lethality for mice). The data supplied by experiments with pepsin and LTA suggest that there exist at least two mechanisms of adherence.