Receptor-specific agglutination tests for detection of bacteria that bind globoseries glycolipids

Abstract

Specific binding to the globoseries of glycolipid receptors explains the adherence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to host cells. The minimal receptor disaccharide Galα1→4Galβ [galactoseα(1→4)galactoseβ] is recognized by most attaching clinical isolates. However, wild-type isolates can express adhesins with several different receptor specificities. Bioassays do not permit separate analysis of each receptor specificity, since the target cells contain multiple potentially receptor-active molecules. In this study, bacterial adhesins were analyzed by using receptors immobilized onto latex beads in one of two ways. In one way, di- and trisaccharides were covalently linked via a spacer arm to latex beads coupled with bovine serum albumin. In the other way, receptor-active glycolipids were coated onto the bovine serum albumin-latex beads. The latex beads were subsequently used for agglutination by using type strains with known receptor specificity. The composition was optimized regarding receptor structure and size of latex beads. Gal 1/4 →4Galβ was as active as the trisaccharide derivative Galα1→4Galβ1→3glucose or Galα1→4Galβ1→3glucosamine. Among the natural glycolipids tested, globotetraosylceramide was the most active. Subsequently, the sensitivity and specificity of the Galα1→4Galβ-latex and globotetraosylceramide-latex reagents were compared for 733 E. coli urinary isolates. Hemagglutination of human erythrocytes was used as the positive standard. No significant difference in the specificity or sensitivity of the latex reagents was found; the sensitivity ranged from 86%, when isolates agglutinating human erythrocytes of blood groups P1 and p were included, to 93%, when those isolates agglutinating erythrocytes of blood group p were excluded. These reagents provide tools for bacterial identification in patients with urinary tract infection.