Abstract: Using the chick-skin model,we have investigated the effects of various pretreatments of the skins on adherence.Acid treatment enhanced adherence of the two types of P.aeruginosa.The reduction of adherence after sodium metaperiodate treatment suggests that the adherent receptor contains sugar,but the pretreatment by the four sugars(D-(+)galactose,D-(+)mannose,N-acetylglucosamine and L-fucose)without the significant inhibition of P.aeruginosa adherence.Only sialie acid inhibited the adherence of these strains. Galactose-specific P.aeruginosa lectin and CL.perfringens neuraminidase had no inhibitory effect on the adherence of the organisms.SPSpurified from slime strain S36 at concentrations as low as 50μg/ml enhanced adherence of the strain S51 and strain S36 The antisera to SPS inhibited the adherence of strain S36 and S51 but not the adherence of nonslime strain NS 8. Direct electron microscopic examination of slime strain S36 have shown that thestengancymof slime strain of P.aeruginosa to produce a thick, flexible,exopolysaccharide-enclosed glycocalyx.It is evident that SPS is an important material in adherence of P.aeruginosa stralns to the skins.

Key words: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Adhesin, exopolysaccharide