This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Møller, J. D. Articles by Dalsgaard, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Møller, J. D. Articles by Dalsgaard, I. Agricola Articles by Møller, J. D. Articles by Dalsgaard, I.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2003, p. 5275-5280, Vol. 69, No. 9
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.9.5275-5280.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Involvement of a Sialic Acid-Binding Lectin with Hemagglutination and Hydrophobicity of Flavobacterium psychrophilum

Jeannette Dan Møller,^1* Jens Laurits Larsen,² Lone Madsen,¹ and Inger Dalsgaard¹

Fish Disease Laboratory, Danish Institute for Fisheries Research,¹ Department of Veterinary Microbiology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark²

Received 13 March 2003/ Accepted 4 July 2003

Strains of Flavobacterium psychrophilum were studied for their ability to adhere and cause agglutination of erythrocytes and yeast cells. Strains of the serotype Th showed low or no hemagglutinating (HA) properties toward human, avian, bovine, and rainbow trout erythrocytes, whereas strains of serotype Fd and Fp^T exhibited distinct HA properties. None of the strains was able to cause agglutination of yeast cells. Greater adherence specificity toward rainbow trout blood cells was seen for the HA-positive strains. Growth at 5°C, compared to that at 15°C, induced an increase in the hemagglutination of some strains. HA activities of F. psychrophilum were inhibited only by sialic acid (N-acetyl-neuraminic acid), heat treatment at 65°C, and proteinase K treatment and not by any of seven other carbohydrates, periodate oxidation, or treatment with trypsin. The supernatant from washed bacterial cells also showed some HA properties. All strains were shown to be highly hydrophobic by the hydrophobic interaction chromatography test, although some contradictions to the results of the salt aggregation test (showing some strains as less hydrophobic) were seen. These results indicate that the aggregation of F. psychrophilum and erythrocytes depend on a lectin present on the surface of HA-positive F. psychrophilum strains and absent on HA-negative strains. This lectin reacts specifically with sialic acid. The adhesion differences observed for F. psychrophilum strains do not appear to correlate with the virulence but still provide insights into the interaction of F. psychrophilum and rainbow trout.

---

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Danish Institute for Fisheries Research, Fish Disease Laboratory, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Phone: 45 3528 2796. Fax: 45 3528 2711. E-mail: jdm{at}dfu.min.dk.

---

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2003, p. 5275-5280, Vol. 69, No. 9
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.9.5275-5280.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Dumetz, F., Duchaud, E., LaPatra, S. E., Le Marrec, C., Claverol, S., Urdaci, M.-C., Le Henaff, M. (2006). A Protective Immune Response Is Generated in Rainbow Trout by an OmpH-Like Surface Antigen (P18) of Flavobacterium psychrophilum.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4845-4852 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Alvarez, B., Secades, P., Prieto, M., McBride, M. J., Guijarro, J. A. (2006). A Mutation in Flavobacterium psychrophilum tlpB Inhibits Gliding Motility and Induces Biofilm Formation.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4044-4053 [Abstract] [Full Text]