Inhibition of Clostridium botulinum types A and B hemagglutinins by sugars

Abstract

Chromatographically isolated hemagglutinins of Clostridium botulinum types A and B are serologically related but not identical. Of the sugars (5, 6, 12, 18 carbons, some derivatives, L and D forms) tested, only D-galactose and some of its derivatives were inhibitors of these hemagglutinins. o-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside and isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside were the most potent inhibitors. The two hemagglutinins were bound tightly by p-aminophenyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside coupled to CH-Sepharose 4B. The ligands to which these hemagglutinins bind were determined as the sugars which inhibited the hemagglutinating activity.