Abstract
Although Serratia marcescens has been reported to possess pili, little attention has been given to the role of the pill in this organism. This piliated bacterium agglutinates human and chicken erythrocytes, and the activity is inhibited by α-D-mannose. The degree of piliation, induced by shaking or static culture conditions, correlate with the hemagglutination activity. S. marcescens depiliated by UV irradiation failed to agglutinate erythrocytes. The possible role of pili as an important virulence factor in promoting adherence to host cells was studied by investigating the ability of piliated S. marcescens to attach to buccal epithelial cells. Results showed that S. marcescens attached to human buccal epithelial cells and that adherence is associated with the presence of common type-1 pili on their surfaces.
