A PROTEIN REGION RESPONSIBLE OF BINDING TO EPITHELIAL CELL TYPES AND A DNA SEQUENCE ENCODING SAID REGION

摘要

This invention relates to a DNA molecule encoding a polypeptide responsible of binding to human and/or animal epithelial cell types. It has been found that various fragments of S-layer protein SlpA of Lactobacillus brevis has adhesive properties to epithelial cells types. It is possible to modify or improve the binding capacity of various prokaryotic or eucaryotic cells to human and/or animal epithelial cell types, like intestinal, urogenital and/or endothelial cell types by using lactobacillar surface structures of this invention. In particular, it is possible with the nucleotide sequences of this invention to improve the binding properties of a host cell having probiotic effects to human and/or animal epithelial cell types.