Adherence factors of non pathogenic microorganisms and applications thereof for screening microorganisms for specific probiotic properties; novel pharmaceutical compositions and food additives comprising such microorganisms and adherence factors

Abstract

A protein obtainable from a non pathgenic microorgansim, said protein having mucosa binding promoting activity and a molecular weight of 20-40 kD is disclosed. Application of such a protein or a peptide derived therefrom in a method of screening non pathogenic microorganisms for a microorganism capable of specifically binding mucosa, said method comprising detection in a manner known per se of the presence of a particular protein on or in a microorganism or in a culture of microorganisms, said particular protein being the already defined protein. Kits suitable for such a screening method are also disclosed. Use of a component selected from the group of components comprising a protein or peptide as defined; an expression vector comprising nucleic acid encoding such protein or peptide; a recombinant microorganism or a part of said microorganism expressing such protein or peptide, said part expressing mucosa binding promoting activity; a non pathogenic microorganism capable of expressing such protein or peptide or a part of said microorganism, said part expressing mucosa binding promoting activity as pharmaceutically active component in a pharmaceutical composition for prophylaxis and/or treatment of disease or illness associated with a mucosa colonizing pathogenic microorganism. Use of such components as food additive and compositions comprising such components are described.