Hemagglutinins of Prevotella intermedia with no fimbriae

Abstract

We attempted to isolate hemagglutinins from P. intermedia strain E18 and to characterize their active fractions. Hemagglutination activities were found in three different fractions (designated as A, B and C) by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. Electron microscopic study revealed that fraction A was an amorphous structure, while extracellular vesicles were a major constituent of fractions B and C. All fractions were sensitive to heat and proteolytic enzymes. However, the sensitivity pattern of fraction A was different from that of B and C. D-Glucosamine, D-galactosamine and N-acety-neuraminic acid caused hemagglutination inhibition of all fractions. In addition, fraction A was sensitive to L-arginine. These results indicate that at least two different hemagglutinins, which are proteins found in nature, may exist in P. intermedia strain E18.