INTERACTION OF COHO SALMON ONCORHYNCHUS-KISUTCH EGG LECTIN WITH THE FISH PATHOGEN AEROMONAS-SALMONICIDA

The yolk of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch eggs contains a galactoph ilic lectin which proved capable of binding to Aeromonas salmonicida, the causative agent of furunculosis in salmonids. Immunofluorescence s taining of whole bacterial cells, and western blot analysis of cellula r fractions from various phenotypes of A, salmonicida, revealed that t he lipopolysaccharide's core region and other soluble proteins and/or glycoproteins were the bacterial lectin-binding sites. The protective role of the egg's lectin was investigated by testing the lectin for it s ability to prevent growth of A, salmonicida. The lectin did not show antibacterial activities against any of the tested strains of A, salm onicida. It was concluded that the lectin's role lay in some direction other than protection against disease agents.