Roles of different putative colonization factor antigens in colonization of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in rabbits.
The role of some well-characterized putative colonization factors (PCFs) in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), i.e. PCFO159, PCFO166, CS7, CS17 and CFA/III, for colonization of the bacteria in the intestine was studied in a non-ligated rabbit intestine model (RITARD). Intestinal administration of 10(11) organisms of the various strains only resulted in very mild symptoms with loose stools during a few days in most of the animals. Strains expressing PCFO159, CS7, CS17 and CFA/III were shed in the stool for a significantly longer period than PCF/CS-negative ETEC. However, the mean time of shedding PCFO166 positive organisms did not significantly exceed that of non-fimbriated E. coli. All strains that colonized rabbit intestine, as assessed by prolonged fecal excretion, also gave rise to high serum antibody responses against the homologous fimbriae whereas non-colonizing strains failed to induce such responses. This study strongly suggests that several of the recently described PCFs, e.g. PCFO159, CS7, CS17 and CFA/III are colonizing factors and strong immunogens.
Svennerholm
A M
AM
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
McConnell
M M
MM
Wiklund
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011817:Rabbits
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C022924:colonization factor antigens; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins