AN EVALUATION OF LECTIN-MEDIATED MAGNETIC BEAD CELL SORTING FOR THE TARGETED SEPARATION OF ENTERIC BACTERIA

Lectin-labelled magnetic beads were assessed and compared with antiser a as an alternative approach for the targeted separation and isolation of enteric bacteria. Of the 16 lectins tested against a range of bact erial species, concanavalin A (conA) showed the greatest: potential. A gglutination of bacterial cells in suspension using conA and methods f or effective labelling of the magnetic beads with the lectin were opti mized. ConA-labelled magnetic beads were compared with antibody-labell ed beads for recovery of bacterial cells from pure or mixed laboratory cultures and from natural populations in river water. Recovered cell populations were free from environmental impurities and a high percent age of the culturable cells was extracted. Specific cell recovery was found to be variable, but the use of lectins offers some promise as an alternative cell discriminator.