Lectin-like binding of lactobacilli considered for their use in probiotical preparations for animal use.

Three gut lactobacilli from piglets (Lactobacillus plantarum L 5, Lactobacillus paracasei L 81, Lactobacillus fermentum L 670) and Lactobacillus casei subsp. pseudoplantarum L.c.) from a calf were examined by microtitre plate binding assay for their lectin-like binding activity after their cultivation on Rogosa agar and in MRS broth. Three ECM (extracellular matrix) molecules (fetuin, porcine fibronectin and porcine mucin) were selected for this assay. Additionally, the effect of heparin on the binding of these three ECM molecules by Lactobacillus strains in microtitre plates was tested. Moreover, haemagglutination tests with pig, cattle, sheep, and hen erythrocytes were performed. However, none of the four Lactobacillus strains examined did react with any of the erythrocytes tested. The differences between individual strains were observed in their binding to immobilised ECM molecules. The best adherent was the Lactobacillus plantarum L5, however, the other three strains showed also good ECM binding. With regard to an influence of cultivation medium on lectin-like binding activity, binding of all ECM molecules was expressed in Lactobacillus paracasei L 81 to significantly higher degree (P < 0.001) after cultivation on Rogosa agar than in MRS broth. Similarly, strains Lactobacillus fermentum L 670 and Lactobacillus casei subsp. pseudoplantarum L.c. displayed significantly higher (P < 0.001) binding of fibronectin and mucin after growth on Rogosa agar in comparison with MRS broth cultivation. However, no significant (on fetuin and fibronectin binding) or opposite effect (on mucin binding) of cultivation medium was observed in Lactobacillus plantarum L 5 strain. The influence of cultivation medium on fetuin binding by Lactobacillus fermentum L 670 was also not significant while Lactobacillus casei subsp. pseudoplantarum L.c. bound fetuin significantly better (P < 0.01) after growth on Rogosa agar. Heparin pretreatment increased the binding of the ECM molecules by the Lactobacillus fermentum L 670 strain significantly (P < 0.001 or P < 0.05) with the exception of porcine fibronectin when the strain was cultivated in MRS broth. This result is important especially in the connection with the previous observations that heparin decreased ECM binding of enteropathogens as staphylococci or clinical enterococcal isolates. Following up on some earlier strain characteristics, these results indicate that the selected lactobacilli are probably suitable for probiotic purposes.