title: Synergy between type 1 fimbriae expression and C3 opsonisation increases internalisation of E. coli by human tubular epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial infection of the urinary tract is a common clinical problem with E. coli being the most common urinary pathogen. Bacterial uptake into epithelial cells is increasingly recognised as an important feature of infection. Bacterial virulence factors, especially fimbrial adhesins, have been conclusively shown to promote host cell invasion. Our recent study reported that C3 opsonisation markedly increases the ability of E. coli strain J96 to internalise into human proximal tubular epithelial cells via CD46, a complement regulatory protein expressed on host cell membrane. In this study, we further assessed whether C3-dependent internalisation by human tubular epithelial cells is a general feature of uropathogenic E. coli and investigated features of the bacterial phenotype that may account for any heterogeneity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 31 clinical isolates of E. coli tested, C3-dependent internalisation was evident in 10 isolates. Type 1 fimbriae mediated-binding is essential for C3-dependent internalisation as shown by phenotypic association, type 1 fimbrial blockade with soluble ligand (mannose) and by assessment of a type 1 fimbrial mutant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  we propose that efficient internalisation of uropathogenic E. coli by the human urinary tract depends on co-operation between type 1 fimbriae-mediated adhesion and C3 receptor -ligand interaction.
authors.affiliation: Complement Laboratory, Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, UK. ke.li@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wuding
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sheerin