Effect of monosaccharides and ethyleneglycol on the interaction between Escherichia coli bacteria and Octyl-Sepharose

Combined effects of monosaccharides and reduced surface tension of the medium were studied in relation to the hydrophobic binding of Escherichia coli bacteria, with and without mannose-specific structures. Hydrophobic binding was analyzed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose. The results showed that ethyleneglycol, as well as mannose, reduced the hydrophobic interaction of the bacteria with mannose-specific structures. This effect was potentiated by combining ethyleneglycol and mannose. No other monosaccharides tested (galactose and fucose) had any effect on the hydrophobic interaction of bacteria with mannose-specific structures. These results further strengthen the hypothesis that the mannose-specific interaction of Escherichia coli bacteria is, at least in part, mediated by hydrophobic forces.