Abstract

Bacterial surface colonizers are depended to a variety of physical stresses. During the colonization of human epithelia such as on the skin or the elementary canal, bacteria mainly have to suffer the mechanical stress of being removed by fluid flow, discarding, or epithelial turnover. To that end, they express a series of molecules to establish firm attachment to the epithelial surface, such as febrile projections which is also called pile and surface-anchored proteins that bind to human matrix proteins. In addition, some bacteria-in particular gut and urinary tract pathogens-use internalization by epithelial cells and other methods such as directed inhibition of epithelial turnover to ascertain continued association with the epithelial layer. Furthermore, many bacteria produce multilayered collections called biofilms with a sticky extracellular matrix, providing additional protection from removal. It will give an overview over the mechanisms human bacterial colonizers have to withstand physical stresses with a focus on bacterial adherence. Staphylococci are the most abundant skin-colonizing bacteria and the most important causes of nosocomial infections and community-associated skin infections. Molecular determinants of staphylococcal skin colonization include surface polymers and proteins that promote fixing and accumulation, and a wide variety of mechanisms to avoid received and natural host defenses.