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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2014 Sep 29;38(6):1250–1270. doi: 10.1111/1574-6976.12088

Fig. 9. Two-step model of streptococcal tissue attachment.

Fig. 9

Streptococcal adhesion follows a two-step model, which in principle is valid also for other Gram-positive pathogens that have pili and attach to epithelial tissues. Long-range attachment is accomplished predominantly by pili, via non-specific (electrostatic/hydrophobic) or specific, pilus adhesin-mediated interaction. Then, short-range interactions by specific bacterial adhesins facilitate firm attachment to the epithelial cells.