INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ROLE OF FLAGELLA IN ADHESION OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA TO MOUSE AND HUMAN CORNEAL EPITHELIAL PROTEINS

Antiflagellar monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were used in an overlay assay to determine whether flagella bind to blots of mouse and human corneal epithelial proteins (CEPs). The role of carbohydrates and surface charge was also explored by preincubation of blots with periodate or neuraminidase, or flagella with monosaccharides or charged compounds, respectively. Periodate slightly decreased binding of flagella, while sialic acid inhibited binding, and the effect was dose dependent. Neuraminidase treatment of blots or incubation of flagella with a negatively, but not a positively charged compound, also blocked binding. The data suggest that flagella interact with mouse and human CEPs by electrostatic mechanisms.