FIBRONECTIN AND VITRONECTIN BINDING OF BACTEROIDES-FRAGILIS AND 8 OTHER SPECIES OF THE GENUS

The fibronectin and vitronectin bindings of 152 strains belonging in 9 Bacteroides species of different origins were tested by means of late x agglutination. 23% of the strains isolated from faeces exhibited fib ronectin binding, as did 46% of the strains obtained from severe infec tions. Most of the strains displaying fibronectin binding belonged to the species Bacteroides fragilis or Bacteroides vulgatus. The binding could be inhibited by preincubation of the cells with an excess amount of fibronectin. Vitronectin binding was less common, but was always o bserved in parallel with fibronectin binding.