Adhesion of a Human Fecal Escherichia coli Strain to Mouse Colonic Mucus

摘要

Escherichia coli F-18 isolated from the feces of a healthy human is an excellent colonizer of the CD-1 mouse colon. In the present investigation, adhesion of E. coli F-18 to CD-1 mouse colonic mucus and bovine serum albumin (BSA), immobilized on polystyrene, was studied. Adhesion of E. coli F-18 to mucus was two- to sixfold greater than to either BSA or polystyrene. E. coli F-18 lipopolysaccharide specifically blocked adhesion to E. coli F-18 to mucus and mimicked adhesion of E. coli F-18 to mucus, BSA and polystyrene. Purified capsule also blocked adhesion of E. coli F-18 receptor in mucus appeared to be a glycoprotein, containing sugars normally found in mucins and having a maximum molecular weight of between 125,000 and 250,000.