[Ecological factors for host tissue colonization].

The first stage of microbial infection is colonization; the establishment of the pathogen at the appropriate portal of the entry. Organisms that have the ability to colonize host tissues, have usually developed tissue adherence mechanisms and some ability to overcome or withstand the constant pressure of host defense mechanisms. There are namely 3 adaptations that are important for bacteria to colonize human hosts: Coaggregation, osmo-adaptation, acid tolerance and resistance. In this review article, these adaptation mechanisms have been discussed under the light of literature.