Characterization of surface adhesins of lactobacilli used in production of probiotic preparations

We examined production of the protein-lipoteichoic complex detectable by concanavalin A in six lactobacillus strains. A correlation was found between detection of this complex by both reaction with concanavalin A and agglutination with strain-specific antiserum. The cultures were characterized by expression of different types of adhesins. Among them, strains were differentiated with low adhesion activity and intensive production of the protein-lipoteichoic complex and strains with wide adhesin spectrum not producing the complex. We assume that a combination of lactobacillus variants differing in production of the protein-lipoteichoic complex and adhesion potency can be a basis of efficient probiotic preparation. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006.