title: Fine surface structure of enterotoxemic Escherichia coli O139:K12 strains associated with swine edema disease.
abstract: The fine structure of the cell surface of seven enterotoxemic Escherichia coli (ETEEC) O139:K12 strains isolated from piglets with edema disease were examined electron microscopically using both the negative-staining method and the freeze-substitution fixation method. Densely packed, fine fibers were observed; they consisted of a capsule layer approximately 25 nm thick around the cell surfaces of strains 107/86, IW-2, ED-3, ED-43, and ED-61, all of which have a capacity to adhere strongly to HEp-2 cells. In contrast, no such structure was observed on the surface of strains RK-O139 or ED-1, both of which adhere only weakly to HEp-2 cells. These results suggest that the capsule structure might be associated with the ability to adhere to HEp-2 cells and, as a result, also potentially play some role in ETEEC infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Welfare, Seinan-Jogakuin University, 1-3-5 Ibori, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 803, Japan. shuji@bact.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amako
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004488:Edema Disease of Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017110:Freeze Substitution; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D016624:Negative Staining; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C030659:K antigens