Sialic acid binding sites: role in hemagglutination by Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Hemagglutination of turkey erythrocytes by Mycoplasma gallisepticum was inhibited by mucoproteins containing sialic acid, by sialic acid itself, and by treatment of the erythrocytes with neuraminidase. Neuraminidase treatment of the mucoprotein-rich inhibitors reduced or abolished their inhibitory activity. The findings indicate that sialic acid on the erythrocyte surface provides binding sites for Mycoplasma gallisepticum.