New lectins and other putative adhesins in Aeromonas hydrophila

The ability of strains of Aeromonas hydrophila to bind 125I-labelled collagen types I and IV, fibronectin, laminin, lactoferrin, and immobilized mucins and orosomucoid on latex beads was found to be a property common to all the isolated strains. The binding was specific, was inhibited by homologous unlabelled glycoproteins, and was protease sensitive. The nature of the binding is discussed.