Demonstration of the adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to the surface of human tonsillar tissue.

One of the mechanisms by which bacteria become pathogenic on mucosal surfaces is their capacity to adhere to those surfaces. Although adherence of pathogens has been demonstrated on other mucosal surfaces, it has never been demonstrated on tonsillar tissue. A section of the surface of a pharyngeal tonsil was thoroughly washed with phosphate buffered saline and divided into fragments of Gram staining, scanning electron microscopy, and incubation with group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from the upper respiratory tract. After 30 minutes and 24 hours of incubation the fragment was removed, washed thoroughly with phosphate buffered saline to remove any nonadherent S. pyogenes, and divided into three parts for Gram staining, scanning electron microscopy, and homogenization for tube and plate dilution. Adherence of S. pyogenes was demonstrated by Gram staining, scanning electron microscopy, and plate dilution. This first demonstration of bacterial adherence on tonsillar mucosa tract points to adhesion as a mechanism of pathogenesis in S. pyogenes infection in the tonsil.