Lipoteichoic acids in Lactobacillus strains that colonize the mouse gastric epithelium.

Extracts of cells of 22 strains of Lactobacillus species, and of fluids from cultures in a defined medium of two of the strains, were assayed by hemagglutination inhibition for lipoteichoic acids. A total of 10 of the preparations gave positive tests for the acids, including those from eight strains known to adhere to the keratinized squamous epithelium of the mouse stomach. These findings are consistent with an hypothesis that lactobacilli colonize the epithelial surface via adhesive interaction with the keratinized cells mediated by macromolecular complexes containing lipoteichoic acids.