RESUMO
The aggregation and adherence activity of P. aeruginosa, mediated by whole saliva from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and non-CF subjects, was investigated. CF saliva-mediated aggregation of P. aeruginosa was stronger than the activity of non-CF saliva. Likewise, P. aeruginosa adherence to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) of CF patients was stronger than to BEC of non-CF subjects. Adherence of non-mucoid P. aeruginosa to BEC of CF patients was increased by saliva, whereas the mucoid variant was not. CF patients colonized with P. aeruginosa showed higher adherence of the non-mucoid variant than non-colonized CF patients. CF patients with high saliva-mediated adherence of non-mucoid P. aeruginosa also had high salivary aggregation activity. Increased CF saliva-mediated aggregation activity may be linked to the increased non-mucoid P. aeruginosa adherence to BEC of CF patients.
