Mannose Adhesin—Glycan Interactions in the Euprymna Scolopes—Vibrio Fischeri Symbiosis

Abstract

The recognition of and adherence to animal epithelia by bacteria is often mediated by bacterial surface lectins, called adhesins, that bind to sugars on the brush borders of host cells (Giampapa et al., 1987; Abraham et al., 1988; Sharon et al.,1989). We report here results of experiments that provide evidence for the role of adhesin-glycan interactions in the initiation of the model symbiosis (Ruby, 1996) between the sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes and its light organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri.