Penetration of fimbriate enteric bacteria through basement membranes: a hypothesis.
A mechanism for penetration of basement membranes by Escherichia coli is presented. The mechanism is based on the ability of the S fimbriae of meningitis-associated E. coli to bind to vascular endothelium and choroid plexuses in brain and to basement membranes. On the other hand, the S and the type 1 fimbriae of E. coli immobilize plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator; this process generates proteolytic plasmin activity on the surface of fimbriate cells. Our hypothesis is that bacterium-bound plasma activity, directed to basement membranes through fimbrial binding, promotes bacterial penetration through basement membranes.
Department of General Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
T K
TK
Korhonen
R
R
Virkola
K
K
Lähteenmäki
Y
Y
Björkman
M
M
Kukkonen
T
T
Raunio
A M
AM
Tarkkanen
B
B
Westerlund
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000382:microbiology*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism
D010958:Plasminogen; D005341:Fibrinolysin