It depends on waht type of E. coli specific antibodies you have. If you have antibodies that can specifically bind to the key components of E. coli that are present on the cell surface, you may be able to manage to immobilize with just a single antibody (i.e. you do not need to have multiple types of antibodies). Can you specify the purpose for which you wish to immobilize E. coli cells using antibodies?

I am immobilizing e. coli antibodies on the surface of a optical fiber (portion of the fiber is decladded, its a biosensor). I wish to studies the stability of the bond between the antibody and the ecoli. Here the antibodies are binding to the surface via silanization (surface functionalization).

Furthermore, the antibodies are from abcam (ab25823).

Dear Hariharan:

E.coli is a gram negative rod with 1000 of O:K:H antigens with its presence in almost all warm blooded animals. Therefore, it is understood to immobilize E.coli  of one type is possible but not the whole lot of E.coli.. Therefore, you get the info from antibody supplier and also get the strain of E. coli was used for raising specific antibody. This info and materials may help you to proceed further. By the bye, you must be clear about  the background information for which you are going to work further..... Instead  surface antigens (O,K,H), DNA associated approach would be more judicious and scientific.

Dear Sir,

I am using E. coli DH5 Alpha for my experiments. I have enquired Abcam (supplier) for the properties of antibody, but they say that they have not characterized them (meaning they do not state which membrane protein they target).

Dear:

If you do not have the proper specification for antibody you have, you may not proceed. As you are in Chennai, visit King Institute. You may get a strain and a specific antibody for the same.

Definitely sir, I will try to visit King's Insti.