Intestinal colonization and antibody response.
Rapid bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract takes place immediately after birth. Only a few of the Escherichia coli strains colonizing the gut of healthy full-term neonates expressed MS pili. On the other hand, most E. coli strains isolated carried MR pili resembling the P-fimbriae which are a known virulence factor for pyelonephritogenic E. coli. The presence of serum antibodies against pili and K antigens of E. coli after vaccination did not influence the capacity of E. coli to colonize and persist in the intestine of experimental animals.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D014611:Vaccination
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C030659:K antigens