title: Experimental Escherichia coli ascending pyelonephritis in rats: changes in bacterial properties and the immune response to surface antigens.
abstract: Systemic and urinary antibody responses were examined in rats with experimental ascending pyelonephritis caused by Escherichia coli O6K13H1. During 12-month follow-up of the infections, bacterial characteristics of the urinary and renal isolates were followed: O and K antigenicity, sensitivity to the bactericidal effect of normal human serum, capacity to attach to urinary tract epithelial cells, hemolytic activity, biochemical pattern, and virulence. During the long-term infection, the urinary and renal bacterial isolates changed in O and K antigenicity, serum sensitivity, and virulence. The adhesive capacity of the bacterial isolates did not change, possibly explaining the persistence of the bacteria in the urinary tract. The serum anti-O6 antibody levels remained high during the entire 1-year observation period, especially in the rats with renal involvement. Urinary anti-O6 antibodies were also found. The serum and urinary antibodies could have played a role in bringing about the observed changes in bacterial characteristics. Antibodies to lipid A were recorded in 9 of 16 rats with pyelonephritis and renal scarring and in 1 of 9 rats not having pyelonephritis or renal bacterial growth.
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial