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.

Descriptor ID	D018829
MeSH Number(s)	D12.776.097.120.050 D12.776.543.100.050 D23.050.161.050
Concept/Terms	Adhesins, Bacterial Adhesins, Bacterial Bacterial Adhesins Adhesin, Bacterial Bacterial Adhesin Fimbrial Adhesins Fimbrial Adhesins Adhesins, Fimbrial

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Adhesins, Bacterial".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Adhesins, Bacterial".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Adhesins, Bacterial".