Chemicals and Drugs

Bacterial Adhesins

Cell-surface components or appendages of bacteria that facilitate adhesion (BACTERIAL ADHESION) to other cells or to inanimate surfaces. Most fimbriae (FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL) of gram-negative bacteria function as adhesins, but in many cases it is a minor subunit protein at the tip of the fimbriae that is the actual adhesin. In gram-positive bacteria, a protein or polysaccharide surface layer serves as the specific adhesin. What is sometimes called polymeric adhesin (BIOFILMS) is distinct from protein adhesin.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Cell-surface components or appendages of bacteria that facilitate adhesion (BACTERIAL ADHESION) to other cells or to inanimate surfaces. Most fimbriae (FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL) of gram-negative bacteria function as adhesins, but in many cases it is a minor subunit protein at the tip of the fimbriae that is the actual adhesin. In gram-positive bacteria, a protein or polysaccharide surface layer serves as the specific adhesin. What is sometimes called polymeric adhesin (BIOFILMS) is distinct from protein adhesin.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Adhesin, Bacterial
  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Adhesin
  • Adhesins, Fimbrial
  • Fimbrial Adhesins

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

23 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemistry, classification, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

coordinate IM with specific bacterium (IM) but note that ADHESINS, ESCHERICHIA COLI is available; do not confuse with BACTERIAL ADHESION; do not confuse with BIOFILMS

MeSH Record

History Note

95

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • specific Adhesins (1975-1994)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D12.776w.097.025.050w
  2. D12.776w.097.120.050w
  3. D12.776w.543w.100.050w
  4. D23.050w.161.050w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Bacterial Adhesins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018829. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018829
  2. Bacterial Adhesins. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_adhesin
  3. Bacterial Adhesins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q356661