Binding of pig small intestinal mucin glycopeptides to fimbriated enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Fimbriated enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were found to specifically bind mucin glycopeptides from pig small intestine. Bacteria with N-acetyl galactosamine-specific fimbriae (F41) were found to have two populations of binding sites for mucin glycopeptides. High affinity sites (5 X 10(2) per cell) with a dissociation constant of 1 X 10(-7) M. Bacteria with sialic acid specific fimbriae (K99) were estimated to possess 3 X 10(3) binding sites per cell with a dissociation constant of 6 X 10(-7) M.