Hydrophobic surface properties of Bordetella bronchiseptica X-mode cells and their possible role in adherence to porcine nasal mucosa.

Bordetella bronchiseptica strains were examined to determine whether the surface hydrophobicity of the bacteria correlates with their adherence to porcine nasal epithelial cells. The relative hydrophobicity of the bacteria, measured by their retention to a column of hydrophobic phenyl-Sepharose gel and their aggregation in ammonium sulfate solution, correlated well with their adhesive properties. Phase I cells in X-mode, which adhered well to the epithelial cells, were conspicuously hydrophobic. The cells in C-mode and degraded phases, which adhered poorly to the epithelial cells, were relatively hydrophilic. These observations provide evidence for the suspected role of hydrophobic interactions in the adherence of B. bronchiseptica to porcine nasal mucosa.