Inability to express fimbriae results in impaired ability of Haemophilus influenzae b to colonize the nasopharynx.
We cloned into the structural fimbrial subunit gene from a fimbriated Haemophilus influenzae b a 1.5-kb kanamycin resistance gene. The resultant strain (RKAW5) was tested by Southern analysis, hemagglutination, and electron-micrographic examination to confirm gene inactivation. In comparison with the parent, RKAW5 exhibited a significant decrease in adherence to human buccal epithelial cells and in nasal colonization of yearling rhesus monkeys.
Weber
A
A
Division of Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98105.
Harris
K
K
Lohrke
S
S
Forney
L
L
Smith
A L
AL
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000254:growth & development*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010957:Plasmids