Autoaggregation and adhesion ability in a Bifidobacterium suis strain.

ABSTRACT

On the basis of autoaggregation ability, two different phenotypes (Agg+ and Agg-) were selected from a strain (BSu895) of Bifidobacterium suis. The relationship between autoaggregation and adhesion of bacteria to intestinal tissue was investigated by observing the adhesivity of the two phenotypic variants to ileum and colon tissue pieces collected from six new-born piglets. The results suggest that there is a good relationship between autoaggregation and adhesion as variant Agg+ (autoaggregating) has a stronger adhesion ability than Agg- (non-autoaggregating).