Calf small intestine receptors for K99 fimbriated enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Non-acid and acid glycolipids were isolated from the small intestine of a newborn calf and tested for the ability to bind Escherichia coli carrying K99 fimbriae. The bacteria did not bind to any of the non-acid glycolipids, whereas in the acid glycolipid fraction several gangliosides were detected which bind to K99 fimbriae. Gangliosides capable of binding K99 fimbriated E. coli were characterized as NeuGc-GM3, NeuGc-GM2, NeuGc-GD1a NeuAc-SPG and NeuAc-SPG. No binding was detected to NeuAc-GM3 and NeuGc-GM1.