ABSTRACT
The cells themselves can only be organized in tissues because of mechanisms ensuring their adherence. Lectins constitute a major group of cellular receptors. The specificity of these receptors has been confirmed by numerous observations. A large number of microbial adhesins attach themselves to specific receptors of a glucidic nature; however, on this level, competition phenomena come into play, notably when identical antigenic patterns converge in a single site. Conclusively, in all microbial attachment processes on a mucosa or any cellular surface, the concentration in microbial cells and their abundance in adhesins should be taken into account, while understanding that these appendages are themselves submitted to the imperatives of genetics and likely to mutate. Mucins, which are widespread in living beings, make excellent captors of microorganisms. They participate in the structure of the peribuccal mucus of mollusks and notably retain enteroviruses and some bacteria.
