Effect of antigenic modulation and phase variation on adherence of Bordetella bronchiseptica to porcine nasal epithelial cells.

In parallel with bacterial density, Bordetella bronchiseptica phase-I, X-mode cells adhered well to porcine nasal epithelial cells, whereas C-mode cells and variant cells in phases II, III, and rough adhered feebly. Cell surface components lost, on transition from X to C mode or from phase I to degraded phases, may confer much of the organism's adherence ability.