Lactobacilli binding human A-antigen expressed in intestinal mucosa

Adherent lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the human intestine were investigated using the surface plasmon resonance technique with the biosensor BIACORE-1000. Ninety-three LAB strains were isolated from human feces and evaluated for binding to human blood type-A antigen [GalNAcα1-3 (Fucα1-2) Gal-: A-trisaccharide] expressed in the intestinal mucosa. Eleven strains showed strong adherence to an A-trisaccharide biotinyl polymer (BP) probe, and slightly or no adherence to a B-trisaccharide BP probe. Four strains with high adherence (high A/B ratio) were selected and their surface layer proteins (SLPs) were evaluated for A-antigen ligand binding using BIACORE. The SLP from L. brevis strain OLL2772 showed a single band at ca. 48 kDa by SDS–PAGE analysis and it had a very strong adherence to the human A-antigen, as shown using an anti-A lectin blocking technique. A partial N-terminal sequence of the band showed strong homology to an S-layer protein of L. brevis ATCC8287T. The probiotic LAB binds to human blood type-A antigen expressed in the intestinal mucosa which may aid in colonization of the gut.