Interaction of bifidobacterial lipoteichoic acid with human intestinal epithelial cells

Binding of the lipoteichoic acids of Bifidobacterium bifidum to human colonic epithelial cells appeared to be specific, reversible, and cell concentration and time dependent. A single population of approximately 8.3 X 10(8) binding sites per cell was detected, with a dissociation constant of 125 microM. Ester-linked fatty acids are essential for binding.