title: K-antigen identification, hemolysin production, and hemagglutination types of Escherichia coli O6 strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections.
abstract: Serotyping of 1918 Escherichia coli strains isolated in significant cell numbers from the urine of patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) revealed the presence of 117 O6 strains. The K antigens were identified by means of K-specific phages and serological methods. The phages used included a K1 phage pool (phi 1, A-E) and the separate phages phi 2, phi 5, phi 7, phi 12 and phi 13. The presence of H antigens, type 1 fimbriae formation, hemolysin production and mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA) ability with human A, sheep, calf and pig erythrocytes were also analyzed. Six different MRHA types were defined and discussed in relation to the O6:K:H serotype. Remarkably, E. coli O6 strains were found to possess a whole arsenal of virulence factors (K antigens, MRHA, hemolysin). The most common serotypes - O6:K2:H1/H- (26), O6:K5:H1/H- (35) and O6:K13:H1/H- (20) - differed from each other in some cases in both MRHA type and hemolysin production.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Rostock.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zingler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orskov
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orskov
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Falkenhagen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Naumann
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D012703:Serotyping; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030659:K antigens