Directed immobilization of recombinant staphylococci on cotton fibers by functional display of a fungal cellulose-binding domain

The immobilization of recombinant staphylococci onto cellulose fibers throu gh surface display of a fungal cellulose-binding domain (CBD) was investiga ted. Chimeric proteins containing the CBD from Trichoderma reesei cellulase Cel6A were found to be correctly targeted to the cell wall of Staphylococc us carnosus cells. since full-length proteins could be extracted and affini ty-purified. Furthermore. surface accessibility of the CBD was verified usi ng a monoclonal antibody and functionality in terms of cellulose-binding wa s demonstrated in two different assays in which recombinant staphylococci w ere found to efficiently bind to cotton fibers. The implications of this st rategy of directed immobilization Tor the generation of whole-cell microbia l tools Fur different applications will be discussed. (C) 2001 federation o f European Microbiological Societies. Published bq Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.