Bacterial adhesin-host cell receptor interface

The bacterial adhesin-host cell receptor interface is the molecular contact point where bacterial surface proteins (adhesins) bind to specific host cell surface molecules, such as carbohydrates or proteins (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2017). This interaction is the critical first step in the pathogenesis of many bacterial infections, allowing microbes to adhere to host tissues and resist mechanical clearance by bodily fluids (Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2021). Because this interface is essential for colonization and the subsequent formation of biofilms, it has become a significant focus for "anti-adhesion" therapeutic strategies. Drugs targeting this interface, such as small-molecule glycomimetics like GSK3882347 or monoclonal antibodies, work by competitively blocking the binding site on either the bacterial adhesin or the host receptor (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2018). This approach is particularly attractive because it targets virulence rather than bacterial viability, which may reduce the selective pressure for antibiotic resistance and preserve the host's healthy microbiome. Clinical applications currently focus on the treatment and prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections and inflammatory bowel disease associated with adherent-invasive bacteria (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2023).

Other names

Bacterial adhesion siteAdhesin-receptor complexMicrobial attachment interfacePathogen-host interaction site

Competitive inhibition of bacterial adhesin binding to host cell receptors, anti-adhesion therapy