Selective retention ofBeijerinckiaon cotton leaf may be due to a lectin-like factor

Abstract

Cotton leaf surfaces showed selective adhesion of Beijerinckia. The leaf ext. showed hemagglutination activity with various types of red blood cells (highest with human blood group O and lowest with guinea pig blood), which suggested the presence of agglutinins. The agglutinating factor of the leaf was apparently trypsin sensitive, nondialyzable, resistant to high temps. (90), and inactive at pH 30 days) with a gradual population decline, whereas the native population remained virtually const. Agglutination of Beijerinckia with leaf exts. occurred only during the early stationary to stationary phase of bacterial growth and was correlated with bacterial capsule formation. Of the simple sugars examined only D- and L-fructose weakly (<50%) inhibited the leaf ext.-mediated agglutination of the bacteria.