General term for molecules involved in adhesion, but its use is restricted in Microbiology where it refers to bacterial surface components.
Type: Term Pronunciation: ad-hē′zins Definitions: 1. Microbial surface antigens that frequently exist in the form of filamentous projections (pili or fimbriae) and bind to specific receptors on epithelial cell membranes; usually classified according to their ability to induce agglutination of erythrocytes from various species, their diff...
molecules on the surface of pathogens that promote colonization of host tissue