Analysis of the variability of S-fimbriae expression in an Escherichia coli pathogen.
The uropathogenic Escherichia coli wild-type strain 536 produces S-fimbriae, P-related fimbriae and type I fimbriae. Using immuno-colony dot and ELISA techniques, variants were detected showing an increased degree of S-fimbrial production. It was demonstrated by immunofluorescence microscopy that in normal (wild-type) and hyper-S-fimbriated E. coli populations non-fimbriated cells also exist, and that the percentage of S-fimbriated and non-fimbriated bacteria was roughly identical in either population. Hyper-S-fimbriated variants could be stably maintained. The transition from wild-type to hyper-S-fimbriation, which occurs spontaneously, is markedly higher than vice versa. Southern blot analysis of the S fimbrial adhesin (sfa) determinants of normal and hyper-fimbriated strains revealed no marked difference in the gene structure.
Institut für Genetik und Mikrobiologie, University of Würzburg, F.R.G.
M
M
Ott
J
J
Hacker
D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015342:DNA Probes; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology
D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015342:DNA Probes