The interaction of F4 fimbriae with porcine enterocytes as analysed by surface plasmon resonance

Fimbriae often play a prominent role in anchoring bacterial cells to host tissue and mediate the first step in pathogenesis. As a consequence, there is a continuous development of new strategies to block the binding of fimbriae to their specific receptor on host cells. The present study demonstrates the specific interaction of F4 (K88) fimbriae and porcine enterocytes using a real-time biomolecular interaction analysis system (BIAcore(R) 3000), based on the principles of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This method offers new opportunities to screen therapeutics for prevention of adhesion and subsequent disease without receptor purification, (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.