title: Type 1 fimbria-mediated adhesion of enteric bacteria to grass roots.
abstract: Type 1 fimbriae of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter agglomerans mediated bacterial adhesion to the roots of bluegrass, Poa pratensis. Purified, radiolabeled fimbriae bound to grass roots in vitro; binding was inhibited by alpha-methyl-d-mannoside or Fab fragments to the fimbriae. Anti-type 1 fimbriae Fab fragments and alpha-methyl-d-mannoside also inhibited adhesion of type 1-fimbriated bacteria to P. pratensis roots. It is proposed that associative nitrogen fixation by Klebsiella and Enterobacter strains also involves type 1 fimbriae, in addition to the type 3 fimbriae of Klebsiella spp. (T. K. Korhonen, E. Tarkka, H. Ranta, and K. Haahtela, J. Bacteriol. 155:860-865, 1983).
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Mannerheimintie 172, SF-00280, Helsinki 28, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haahtela
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tarkka
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Korhonen