SUGAR INHIBITION OF ORAL FUSOBACTERIUM-NUCLEATUM HEMAGGLUTINATION AND CELL BINDING

Using a microtitre haemagglutination (HA) test, human and sheep red blood cells (RBC) were inhibited from HA in the presence of F. nucleatum whole cells and sonicated preparations by the addition of sugars containing d-galactose and by N-acetyl-d-rmgalactosamine. A variety of other monosaccharides, disaccharides and structural analogues of d-galactose showed no inhibitory activity. No differences in sugar inhibition occurred with O-, AB+, A+ and B- human RBC as well as with sheep cells. Storage of F. nucleatum whole cells at 4 °C and changes in pH had little effect on HA and inhibition of HA with d-galactose. Sugar inhibition was dependent upon the F. nucleatum concentration, suggesting a binding-site interaction. Plant lectins bound to RBC sites and decreased binding of the sonicated HA preparation to the cells. d-galactose inhibited HA-preparation adsorption to buccal epithelial cells. © 1979.