Binding specificity of Fusobacterium nucleatum to human erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, fibroblasts, and HeLa cells

Eighteen strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum were studied with respect to their adherence to human erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, fibroblasts, and HeLa cells. Four types of adherence were found: 1) sugar-sensitive adherence 2) amino acid-sensitive adherence 3) unknown adherence 4) weak adherence. There was no obvious correlation between the patterns of hemagglutination and adherence to other cells. The results indicate not only a complex network of bacterial receptors on human cells, but also a variety of types of bacterial adherence as expressed by the selectivity of the bacterial binding to specific cell surfaces.