Question

You are working on ways to treat bacterial diseases. You are focusing on preventing pathogens from adhering to human cells. Pick one adherence factor on the bacteria or host. Describe how you might inhibit or affect the adherence factor so that the bacteria cannot bind to the host cells by this mechanism.

Adherence factor: ________________________________

Description:

Answer 1

One of the significant adherence factor is the Adhesin molecule, which facilitates the adhesion of bacteria to other host cells. Example- FimH is a type -I adhesin found on bacterial surface, Uropathogenic E.Coli (UPEC).

Introduction of anti adhesive antibodies prevents the binding of Uropathogenic E.Coli cells to the host cells. The anti-FimH antibodies create a passive immunization that regulates the colonization of Uropathogenic E.coli. The antibodies alter the structure of FimH adesins, which prevents them from binding to the host cell.