Differences in the adhesive properties of Neisseria meningitidis for human buccal epithelial cells and erythrocytes.

The ability of clinical and carrier isolates of Neisseria meningitidis to adhere to human buccal epithelial cells and erythrocytes was investigated. Four of the 10 fimbriated strains were able to hemagglutinate. Serial subculture of three of these strains resulted in a loss of ability to hemagglutinate and was coincident with a loss of fimbriation. Other fimbriated strains were unable to hemagglutinate but did adhere to buccal epithelial cells. Subculture of one of these strains for as many as 42 passages did not result in loss of fimbriation or ability to adhere to buccal epithelial cells. The attachment of this strain to buccal epithelial cells was inhibited by glycoconjugates. Further, pH exerted different influences on the attachment of hemagglutinating and non-hemagglutinating fimbriated strains to buccal epithelial cells and erythrocytes. The results suggest that different fimbrial mechanisms are involved in the attachment of N. meningitidis to different cell types and that hemagglutination is not an absolute test for fimbriae.