Adherence of Group B Streptococci and Human Erythrocytes to Influenza A Virus-Infected MDCK Cells

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Abstract
Scanning electron microscopy was used to compare the adherence of group B streptococci (types Ia, Ic and II) and human erythrocytes to [Madin-Darby] canine kidney [MDCK] cell monolayers inoculated 24-48 h earlier with influenza A/NWS/33 virus. Streptococci and erythrocytes adhered to the kidney cell surface membranes and filamentous projections of some but not all the cells in virus-inoculated monolayers, while they did not adhere to control monolayers. Streptococcal adherence was blocked when the virus-infected cells were first exposed to erythrocytes. Hemadsorption was blocked when the virus-infected cells were first exposed to streptococci. In mixed bacterial adherence-hemadsorption tests bacteria adhered only to hemadsorption-positive virus-infected cells. Adherence of streptococci types Ia and Ic and erythrocytes was inhibited when the streptococci and erythrocytes were pretreated with receptor destroying enzyme. Enzyme treatment of type II streptococci did not affect their ability to adhere to virus-infected cells.