Inhibition of the adhesion of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains to HT-29 cells in culture by chito-oligosaccharides

Abstract The ability of chito-oligosaccharides (COS) to inhibit selected intestinal bacteria was investigated. COS at 2.5 mg ml −1 had no significant effect on the adhesion of three strains of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), Lactobacillus pentosus , L. casei or L. gasseri to human HT29 cells in tissue culture. However, COS significantly inhibited adhesion of three strains of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) to below 30% of the level of adhesion seen in the controls. Dose–response curves were constructed to further characterise the inhibition of EPEC strains to HT29 cells.