Agglutination of Bacterial Cells of Clostridium innocuum, Bifidobacterium longum, and Micrococcus luteus by Lactoferrin and Ovotransferrin

Abstract

The agglutination of bacterial cells in Clostridium innocuum, Bifidobacterium longum, and Micrococcus luteus by lactoferrin (Lf) and ovotransferrin (OTf) was observed by measuring the absorbance of the cells in suspension and also under a phase-contrast microscope. Lf had the ability to agglutinate C. innocuum and M. luteus, but not B. longum. However, OTf and other proteins from bovine and human milk and from hen's egg white did not affect the agglutination of these bacteria. Lf, when the lysine or arginine residues were chemically modified, completely lost the ability to agglutinate the bacterial cells, while desialylated Lf enhanced the agglutination of the bacterial cells. The absorbance of the cells in suspension by deglycocylated Lf was the same as that by untreated Lf after 1 min, but was markedly decreased after 30min.