Probiotic Adhesion Mechanisms and Host Interactions
Summary
Probiotic microorganisms engage with the host principally through adhesion to the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract. Adhesion is mediated by specialised cell-surface structures such as pili, S-layer proteins, exopolysaccharides and moonlighting proteins, which recognise and bind to glycoproteins, glycolipids and teichoic acids on epithelial cells and within the mucus layer. Such interactions facilitate transient colonisation, competitive exclusion of pathogens and modulation of barrier integrity. Beyond mere attachment, probiotic adhesion triggers signalling cascades that influence innate and adaptive immunity, including the induction of mucin production, reinforcement of tight junctions and regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These mechanisms underpin the beneficial effects of probiotics on gut homeostasis, metabolic functions and resistance to infection, and they have potent implications for the design of next-generation therapeutics aimed at inflammatory bowel disorders, metabolic syndrome and neuroimmune conditions.
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Probiotic Adhesion Mechanisms and Host Interactions publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in probiotic adhesion mechanisms and host interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adhesins: Surface molecules such as proteins or glycopolymers that mediate attachment of bacteria to host tissues.
S-layer: A crystalline proteinaceous lattice on the bacterial surface that contributes to adhesion and immune modulation.
Exopolysaccharide (EPS): Extracellular polymeric carbohydrate matrix that can enhance or impede bacterial binding and immune interactions.
Pili: Filamentous appendages on bacterial surfaces that facilitate specific adherence to host receptors.
Moonlighting proteins: Multifunctional proteins that perform canonical intracellular roles and also act as surface adhesins without classical secretion signals.
Mucoadhesion: The ability of microorganisms to attach to the mucus layer covering epithelial cells, promoting colonisation and persistence.
References
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG triggers intestinal epithelium injury in zebrafish revealing host dependent beneficial effects. iMeta (2024).
- Sodium oligomannate disrupts the adherence of Ribhigh bacteria to gut epithelia to block SAA-triggered Th1 inflammation in 5XFAD transgenic mice. Cell Discovery (2024).
- The molecular architecture of Lactobacillus S-layer: Assembly and attachment to teichoic acids. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2024).
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