title: Characterization of the fim2 and fim3 fimbrial subunit genes of Bordetella bronchiseptica: roles of Fim2 and Fim3 fimbriae and flagella in adhesion.
abstract: With DNA probes derived from the fimbrial subunit genes fim2 and fim3 of Bordetella pertussis, two homologous subunit genes of Bordetella bronchiseptica were identified and cloned. The nucleotide sequences of these genes were determined. Comparison of these nucleotide sequences with the B. pertussis fimbrial fim2 and fim3 subunit genes showed a pronounced homology. Therefore, the B. bronchiseptica genes were also designated fim2 and fim3. Expression of the two B. bronchiseptica genes was demonstrated by Western blotting (immunoblotting) with polyclonal antiserum directed against the Fim2 and Fim3 fimbrial subunit proteins of B. pertussis and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies. After growth of B. bronchiseptica in the presence of MgSO4, no expression of both fimbrial subunit genes was observed. While no fimbriae were expressed, expression of flagella was observed under these circumstances. A longer C-stretch (up to 19 cytosine residues) than the one in front of the fim2 and fim3 genes of B. pertussis is present in front of the B. bronchiseptica fimbrial genes. In adherence experiments, fimbriated (Bvg+) as well as flagellated (Bvg-) B. bronchiseptica bacteria were able to adhere to HeLa cells, whereas nonflagellated B. pertussis did not. This suggests that fimbriae as well as other factors (possibly flagella) contribute to adherence of B. bronchiseptica to eukaryotic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. p.savelkoul@azvu.nl
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Savelkoul
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Kerf
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mooi
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: van der Zeijst
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gaastra
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016950:Bordetella bronchiseptica / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C101541:fim2 protein, Bordetella; C101542:fim3 protein, Bordetella; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins