Question

Explain various ways in which bacteria can attach to host cell surfaces.

Answer 1

there are various mechanism through whcih a bacteria can attach to the host cell surface-

1. adhesion force- there are various kind of force which is applied for the attachemnt of bacteria to the host cell surface. Van der waals force helps in mutual attachement between bacteria and host cell surface, whereas electrostatic force is responsible for replusion between bacteria and host surface. On the other hand hyrophobic interactions result in to keeo bacteria close to the host cell surface.

2. Bacterial structure- there are several structures are present on bacteria like fibrils, pilli, flagella. All of these structures helps bacteria to attach to the host cell surface

3. Adhesins- there are several adhesin molecules known as adhesins are present on bacteria such as lectins which proot attachement of bacteria on host cell surface.

4. Host cell surface nature- lipid membrane structure can be recognized by adhesins of bacteria and helps in attachement. Carbohydrates of glycoproein or amino acids present in protein used as receptor for bacterial attachement.