Bacterial and viral adhesion to host cell

Bacterial and viral adhesion to host cell is the initial step in microbial infection, involving the binding of pathogen-produced adhesion molecules (adhesins) to specific receptors or molecules on the surface of host cells. This process can involve protein-protein, protein-carbohydrate, or protein-lipid interactions. Bacterial adhesins include pili, fimbriae, and surface glycoproteins, often targeting extracellular matrix components like collagen or fibronectin. Viruses typically use viral envelope or capsid proteins to bind host cell receptors such as heparan sulfate proteoglycans, integrins, or immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecules. Successful adhesion is a prerequisite for colonization, entry, and initiation of infection, making individual components of this process important therapeutic targets or vaccine candidates, although "bacterial and viral adhesion to host cell" itself is not a single molecular target.

Other names

Adhesion molecules (generic)Bacterial adhesinsViral attachment receptorsMicrobial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs)Host cell receptors (for pathogen binding)