Moraxella catarrhalis Coaggregates with Streptococcus pyogenes and Modulates Interactions of S. pyogenes with Human Epithelial Cells

摘要

The pathogens Streptococcus pyogenes and Moraxella catarrhalis colonize overlapping regions of the human nasopharynx. We have found that M. catarrhalis can dramatically increase S. pyogenes adherence to human epithelial cells and that species-specific coaggregation of these bacteria correlates with this enhanced adherence.