The haemagglutinins and fimbriae of Proteus penneri.
The haemagglutinins and fimbriae produced by 18 strains of Proteus penneri were studied and compared with those formed by representative strains of other species of Proteeae. After repeated subcultures at 30 degrees C, 12 P. penneri strains formed only MR/K haemagglutinins which were associated with thin, non-channelled, type-3 fimbriae. Two strains formed simultaneously both MS and MR/K haemagglutinins associated with thick, channelled, type-1 fimbriae and type-3 fimbriae, respectively. Four strains formed simultaneously both MR/K and MR/P haemagglutinins. No P. penneri strain formed either MS or MR/P haemagglutinins alone under these conditions. The type-3 fimbriae from P. penneri strain E180 were isolated, purified and found to be protein of 19 Kda. Immunoelectronmicroscopy studies with antibody to the type-3 fimbriae of strain E180 showed that P. penneri strains at least two antigenic types of type-3 fimbriae. The type-3 fimbrial antigen of the vaccine strain E180 was shared by another eight strains of P. penneri. A further eight P. penneri strains and the strains representative of other genera within Proteeae had type-3 fimbriae of a different antigenic type. The formation of these haemagglutinins and fimbriae suggests that this organism is well endowed to be a urinary-tract pathogen.
Yakubu
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Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Dundee Medical School, Ninewells Hospital.
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D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011511:Proteus / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013045:Species Specificity
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006388:Hemagglutinins