APPLICATION OF AN ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY TO MONITOR BACTERIAL BINDING ANDTO MEASURE INHIBITION OF BINDING TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLID-SURFACES

We describe the application of an enzyme immunoassay (ELA) for detecti ng bacteria bound to a solid surface. Different Yersinia enterocolitic a and Escherichia coli strains, expressing the YadA protein, type 1 or type P fimbriae were used as models for this study. The assay was use d to detect bacteria bound to fixed tissues or to glass slides coated with extracellular matrix molecules (collagen, laminin or fibronectin) . E. coli specific antiserum (B357, Dakopatts, Glostrup, Denmark) and peroxidase conjugated antiserum (P217) were used to detect all E. coli strains used in the study. The bacterial binding could be monitored w ith a linear detection range between 10(5) and 10(8) bacteria. Most im portantly, dose dependent inhibition of bacterial binding by soluble e xtracellular matrix molecules could be measured.