Adherence of Lactobacillus to intestinal 407 cells in culture correlates with fibronectin binding

Lactobacilli are members of the normal mucosal microflora of most animals. Many isolates of Lactobacillus spp. are adherent to epithelial cells. In th is study, using Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. agilis, we detected adhere nce in a pattern that suggested that the bacteria were binding to extracell ular matrix proteins. Fluorescent microscopy, by using anti-fibronectin ant ibody, demonstrated that the isolates localize in those areas where fibrone ctin was detected. In addition, fibronectin pretreatment of the bacterial c ells decreased adherence to Intestinal 407 epithelial cell monolayers. Cell ular binding to fibronectin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent ass ay and affinity binding to radio-labeled fibronectin. Fibronectin may be on e of the eukaryotic receptors mediating attachment of Lactobacillus to muco sal surfaces.