Demonstration by immuno-electronmicroscopy of antigenic heterogeneity among P fimbriae of strains of Escherichia coli.
The identification of P fimbriae on urinary strains of Escherichia coli isolated from urine was made by observation of the patterns of mannose-resistant and eluting haemagglutination of erythrocytes of seven animal species (and including those of human p phenotype), and by haemagglutination-inhibition tests with hydatid-cyst fluid known to contain an analogue of P-fimbrial receptor. In tests with five different, pure P-fimbrial antisera prepared in rabbits, agglutinin titres of 37 P-fimbriate strains revealed differences in their reactivity; immuno-electronmicroscopy studies with the same five antisera showed that P-fimbriate strains were markedly different in the extent to which their P fimbriae were coated with antibody. The antigenic heterogeneity observed among P fimbriae is discussed with regard to the development of P-fimbrial vaccines.
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines