FIG. 5.

Attachment of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130 to purified GAGs. GAGs were plated into plastic wells at 1 mg/ml and then probed with ³⁵S-labeled bacteria. After incubation and then washing of the wells to remove unbound bacteria, the percent inoculum bound was calculated. Shown are the means ± standard deviations of results for four replicates from each of two independently grown and radiolabeled batches of bacteria (symbolized by black and gray bars). These data represent results from multiple experiments. CSB, chondroitin sulfate B; CSC, chondroitin sulfate C. The molecular weights (MW) of the dextran (Dex) molecules used are indicated. Binding to heparan sulfate has not been detected in any experiment. The following P values for comparisons to the PBS control were determined by Student's two-tailed t test: for dextran and low-molecular-weight dextran sulfate, P > 0.5; for heparin, P = 0.016; and for CSB, CSC, and high-molecular-weight dextran sulfate, P < 0.001.