A simple method for studying the lectin-like interactions between Helicobacter pylori and cultured human epithelial cell lines was developed using an enzyme-linked, biotin-streptavidin bacterial-adhesion assay. The present study suggests that this method is suitable for evaluating the participation of lectin interactions in the adhesion of H. pylori to cultured HeLa S3 and Kato III cells, both fixed and glycosidase-treated cells, as well as assessing glycoconjugated binding inhibition studies. The time-course and dose-dependent kinetics of the biotin-labeled H. pylori adhesion th the formaldehyde-fixed Hela S3 and Kato III cell lines exhibited saturation. In addition, the binding of the biotin-labeled H. pylori to the formaldehyde-fixed cultured cells was partially blocked by pre-incubation with glycoconjugates and polyclonal antibodies against a heparan sulfate binding protein from H. pylori.