An evaluation of lectin-mediated magnetic bead cell sorting for the targeted separation of enteric bacteria.
Lectin-labelled magnetic beads were assessed and compared with antisera as an alternative approach for the targeted separation and isolation of enteric bacteria. Of the 16 lectins tested against a range of bacterial species, concanavalin A (conA) showed the greatest potential. Agglutination of bacterial cells in suspension using conA and methods for effective labelling of the magnetic beads with the lectin were optimized. ConA-labelled magnetic beads were compared with antibody-labelled beads for recovery of bacterial cells from pure or mixed laboratory cultures and from natural populations in river water. Recovered cell populations were free from environmental impurities and a high percentage of the culturable cells was extracted. Specific cell recovery was found to be variable, but the use of lectins offers some promise as an alternative cell discriminator.
Porter
J
J
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
Robinson
J
J
Pickup
R
R
Edwards
C
C
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation / Q000379:methods*; D037102:Lectins; D012722:Sewage; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D037102:Lectins; D012722:Sewage; D003208:Concanavalin A