Haemagglutinins and Fimbriae in Different Serotypes and Biotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica

When cultured in static broth at 20°C, 46 of 115 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica , diverse in biotype and serotype, produced a broad-spectrum mannose-resistant (MR) adhesin that agglutinated the erythrocytes of all of 10 animal species examined. The production of haemagglutinin (HA) was associated with the presence of fimbriae of S nm diameter. Culture of HA+ strains at 37° resulted in the disappearance of haemagglutinating ability and loss of fimbrial production. Strains of Y. enterocolitica with K1 antigen produced an MR adhesin that agglutinated only fowl erythrocytes and was associated with fimbriae of 4–4.5 nm diameter. None of 14 strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis was haemagglutinating.     

The production of F41 fimbriae by piglet strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli that lack K88, K99 and 987P fimbriae

The enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains 1676, 1706, 1751 and KEC96a, which do not produce fimbrial adhesive antigens of the K88, K99 or 987P antigen type reacted both in vitro and in vivo with antiserum to F41 fimbriae in an indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique. Antiserum used to demonstrate material B, an adhesive antigen thought to mediate the adhesive and mannose-resistant (MR) haemagglutinating properties of E. coli strains 1676, 1706 and 1751, reacted in vitro with an F41+ strain. The antiserum also inhibited the MR haemagglutinating activity of F41 antigen and gave an anionic precipitation line in immunoelectrophoresis experiments with an extract containing F41 antigen. The MR haemagglutinating properties of an antigen extract containing material B from E. coli strain 1706 was neutralized by antiserum to F41 fimbriae and by OK antisera to E. coli strains that produce both F41 and K99 fimbriae. These sera also gave an anionic precipitation line with the MR haemagglutinin from E. coli strain 1706 and the MR haemagglutinin gave a line of identity with F41 in gel diffusion experiments with antiserum to F41 fimbriae. OK antisera to K99+ F41- bacteria and OK antisera to K88+ bacteria and 987P+ bacteria did not react with this haemagglutinin. Transmission electron microscopy on the ileum of newborn gnotobiotic piglets infected with E. coli strain 1706 showed irregular, poorly defined filamentous material surrounding some,though not all, bacteria but regular fimbrial structures were not visible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The attachment to, and invasion of HeLa cells by Salmonella typhimurium: the contribution of mannose-sensitive and mannose-resistant haemagglutinating activities

The association of the haemagglutinating activities of Salmonella typhimurium cultures with bacterial adhesion to HeLa cells, and the internalization of the bacteria by HeLa cells, was studied. Adhesion was not inhibited by alpha-methyl-D-mannoside (i.e. adhesion was mannose-resistant), and only four of the six strains tested produced type 1 fimbriae and the associated mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin (MSHA). The other two strains belonged to the non-fimbriate FIRN biogroup. Cultures of all six strains contained a mannose-resistant haemagglutinating (MRHA) activity when grown at 37 degrees C, but cultures of only one fimbriate and one non-fimbriate strain did so when grown at 18 degrees C. From the comparison of cultures grown at 18 degrees C and 37 degrees C, and of mutant strains with the phenotypes MRHA-negative/MSHA-positive, or MRHA-positive/MSHA-negative, it was concluded that the MRHA activity was responsible for the attachment of salmonellae to HeLa cells. Only bacterial adhesion that was resistant to mannose resulted in the internalization of the bacteria by the HeLa cells.     

Relationships among Broad-Spectrum and Narrow-Spectrum Mannose-Resistant Fimbrial Hemagglutinins in Different Yersinia Species

When 117 strains of Yersinia were grown in serial broth culture at 22 or 30 C, 44 (38%) formed a broad-spectrum, mannose-resistant hemagglutinin (MR/Y-HA) associated with thick (8 nm) channelled (MR/Y) fimbriae; eight other strains (7%) formed a narrow-spectrum, mannose-resistant hemagglutinin (MR/K-like HA) associated with thin (4 nm) non-channelled (type 3-like) fimbriae. The distribution of these two fimbrial hemagglutinins in different Yersinia species is discussed and their properties are compared with those of other reported mannose-resistant hemagglutinins. The thick fimbriae of four Yersinia species were antigenically similar as judged by immunoelectronmicroscopy. Likewise, the thin fimbriae of three Yersinia species were antigenically similar, though different from the thick fimbriae.     

Fimbriae and haemagglutinating properties in Edwardsiella and Levinea.

Using the haemagglutinating procedure, the presence of fimbriae was revealed in all 34 Edwardsiella strains tested and in 3 Levinea strains out of 17 examined. The great majority of fimbriate Edwardsiella strains caused haemagglutination of MR type; only two strains of Edwardsiella and all fimbriate strains of Levinea brought about haemagglutination of MS type. All the strains exhibited a similar spectrum of haemagglutinating activity when they were tested against red cells of various animal species. Under the electron microscope MR fimbriae of Edwardsiella were found to be thicker than MS fimbriae (6.5 nm and 6.0 nm respectively). MS fimbriae of Levinea had 6.5 nm in diameter.     

Autoaggregating Yersinia enterocolitica express surface fimbriae with high surface hydrophobicity

For 13 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, there was a good correlation between the production of the broad-spectrum, mannose-resistant Yersinia haemagglutinin (MR/Y HA), the presence of fimbriae and high surface hydrophobicity. Each of these characters was expressed in cultures grown at low (less than 32 degrees C) but not at high (Greater than 35 degrees C) temperatures.     

A novel fimbrial haemagglutinin produced by a strain of Salmonella of serotype Salinatis

A strain of Salmonella of serotype Salinatis, that produced a mannose-resistant and eluting haemagglutinin (MREHA) when cultured at 37 degrees C but not at 18 degrees C, was examined by electron microscopy after negative staining. Production of this MREHA, previously described as being non-fimbrial, was correlated with the presence of thin fimbriae which had an external diameter of 3.6 nm. The purified Salinatis thin fimbriae had an estimated Mr of 19 kDa. This fimbrial MREHA was not produced by strains of the antigenically related serotypes Duisburg and Sandiego.     

Autoaggregating Yersinia enterocolitica express surface fimbriae with high surface hydrophobicity

For 13 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica , there was a good correlation between the production of the broad-spectrum, mannose-resistant Yersinia haemagglutinin (MR/Y HA), the presence of fimbriae and high surface hydrophobicity. Each of these characters was expressed in cultures grown at low (< 32°C) but not at high (> 35°C) temperatures.     

Surface haemagglutinating activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Intact cells of several strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa agglutinate papain-treated human erythrocytes. The agglutinating activity appears to reside in the surface layers of the bacterium-Pseudomonas surface haemagglutinin. This activity does not correlate with the existence of the internal PA-I and PA-II lectins, the presence of fimbriae or adherence to human buccal epithelial cells. Disruption of the bacterial cells by sonication abolishes their haemagglutinating activity. The intact cells of P. aeruginosa are also able to agglutinate rabbit, chicken, dog, guinea pig and sheep erythrocytes. This activity is generally higher with papain-treated erythrocytes, except those of rabbit in which lower haemagglutinating activity is observed after papain treatment. Optimal conditions for the haemagglutination are 37 degrees C and pH 6-7. Simple sugars do not inhibit, while fetuin and hydrophobic amino acids inhibit this activity. Exposure of the bacterial cells to proteolytic enzymes, EDTA or denaturating conditions abolish the haemagglutinating activity. These results indicate that the surface haemagglutinin is a protein which agglutinates red blood cells via hydrophobic interactions.     

A new mannose-resistant haemagglutinin in Klebsiella

Strains of Klebsiella of the species (or 'patho-bio-sero-geogroups') Kl. atlantae, Kl. edwardsii and Kl. rhinoscleromatis produced neither haemagglutinins (HAs) nor fimbriae; strains of Kl. ozaenae were HA- but some produced type-6 fimbriae; and strains of Kl. pneumoniae (sensu stricto) and Kl. aerogenes that produced the mannose-sensitive HA (MS-HA) formed type-1 fimbriae. Most strains of Kl. aerogenes produced, in addition, one or both of the mannose-resistant HAs, MR/K-HA or MR/P-HA. The former, associated with type-3 fimbriae, was produced by 95%, and the latter by 57%, of the Kl. aerogenes strains. Some of the properties of the MR/P-HA, apparently a non-fimbrial HA not previously recognised in Klebsiella, are described.     

A new mannose-resistant haemagglutinin in Klebsiella

Strains of Klebsiella of the species (or 'patho-bio-sero-geogroups') Kl. atlantae, Kl. edwardsii and Kl. rhinoscleromatis produced neither haemagglutinins (HAs) nor fimbriae; strains of Kl. ozaenae were HA^- but some produced type-6 fimbriae; and strains of Kl. pneumoniae ( sensu stricto ) and Kl. aerogenes that produced the mannose-sensitive HA (MS-HA) formed type-1 fimbriae. Most strains of Kl. aerogenes produced, in addition, one or both of the mannose-resistant HAs, MR/K-HA or MR/P-HA. The former, associated with type-3 fimbriae, was produced by 95%, and the latter by 57%, of the Kl. aerogenes strains. Some of the properties of the MR/P-HA, apparently a non-fimbrial HA not previously recognised in Klebsiella , are described.     

Electron microscopy of adhesive interactions between Gardnerella vaginalis and vaginal epithelial cells, McCoy cells and human red blood cells

Exfoliated vaginal epithelial cells with attached bacteria, termed 'clue cells', which were procured from a patient with non-specific vaginitis, were stained with ruthenium red and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The attached bacteria appeared to adhere by means of an outer fibrillar coat. An epithelial tissue culture cell line (McCoy) and human red blood cells to which strains of Gardnerella vaginalis attached were similarly examined. The adherence of G. vaginalis to the epithelial cell line appeared to be mediated by an outer fibrillar coat while adherence to red cells appeared to be mediated by fimbriae. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on the Gardnerella strains used. Thin sections of tissue-culture-adherent strains revealed a dense outer fibrillar coat whereas the surface of the haemagglutinating strains showed fine fimbriae. Negative staining of haemagglutinating strains demonstrated fimbriae on a minority of organisms.     

Fimbriae and Haemagglutinins in Erwinias of the Carotovora Group

1. Thirteen Erwinia carotovora strains produced mannose-sensitive haemagglutinins associated with the presence of type-1 fimbriae.
2. Three fimbriate Er. rhapontici strains produced haemagglutinins of the mannose-resistant and eluting (MRE) type.
3. There were 12 Er. carotovora , 12 Er. atroseptica and 2 Er. chrysanthemi strains that produced no detectable haemagglutinins and were non-fimbriate.     

In vitro adhesion of n(2)-fixing enteric bacteria to roots of grasses and cereals

Nitrogen-fixing Klebsiella and Enterobacter strains isolated from several plants were assayed for fimbriae and for adhesion to plant roots in vitro. All eight Klebsiella strains formed type 3 fimbriae, and five strains also formed type 1 fimbriae; all 21 Enterobacter strains had type 1 fimbriae. Three strains of Klebsiella carrying either type 1, type 3, or no fimbriae were used as model organisms in developing an in vitro adhesion test. Adhesion was assayed with bacterial cells labeled with [H]leucine. Fifteen N(2)-fixing strains and the three model strains were compared for adhesion to the roots of seven grasses and five cereals. Type 3-fimbriated Klebsiella strains adhered better than the other strains, and type 3 fimbriae appeared to be major adhesins for the Klebsiella strains. Although variations between plants were observed, no host specificity for bacterial adhesion was found.     

Occurrence of p-fimbriae in enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC) and in E. coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections]

The aim of this study was to gain knowledge of prevalence of P+ clones among EPEC strains isolated from children with diarrhoea and E. coli strains isolated from urine. Three hundred eighty four E. coli strains isolated from children with diarrhoea were tested. They belonged to 11 serotypes (018, 025, 026, 044, 055, 0111, 0114, 0119, 0124, 0125, and 0128). Nine hundred thirty colonies of E. coli from Mac Conkey's agar plated quantitatively with urine samples of 178 individuals suffering from urinary tract infections were also tested. All strains were assayed by mannose-resistant active haemagglutination test (MRHA) and by slide agglutination using self prepared latex reagent for detection of P fimbriae. Out of 384 E. coli strains tested 122 (31.8%) showed presence of adhesins detected by mannose-resistant active haemagglutination test (MRHA) and in 90 (23.3%) out of all tested strains the presence of P fimbriae was found. The highest percentage of P fimbriae prevalence was found in E. coli belonging to the following serotypes: 018 (in 68.9% strains), 025 (in 29.2% strains), and 0125 (in 25.0% strains). This type of fimbriae was also detected in serotypes 026 (9.1%), 044 (8.7%), 055 (5.6%), and 0119 (in 2 strains out of 5 isolated). Out of 933 colonies of E. coli, isolated from 178 urine samples, 434 (46.5%) colonies gave positive results in MRHA test, including 133 positive in latex test for P fimbriae. These studies showed that for MRHA adhesins, including P fimbriae, a parallel examination of higher number of E. coli was necessary.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Some strains of Escherichia coli of putative enteroadherent-aggregative serotypes produce an unusual fibrillar haemagglutinin

Two strains of Escherichia coli that formed on unusual kind of mannose-resistant and eluting haemagglutinin (MREHA) reacting with the red blood cells of rat and mouse, when cultured at 37 degrees C but not at 18 degrees C, were examined by electron microscopy. Production of this rare rodent-positive MREHA was correlated with the presence of fine fibrillae of estimated diameter 2.5 nm that were demonstrated by negative staining and immuno-gold labelling with MREHA-specific anti-serum. These two strains belonged to serotypes 078:H- and 078:H33; thus, it would be useful to know whether enteroadherent-aggregative strains of E. coli of these and other serotypes also possess this unusual MREHA.     

Characterization of type 1 and mannose-resistant fimbriae of Erwinia spp.

Type 1 fimbriae from Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora and mannose-resistant fimbriae from Erwinia rhapontici were purified and characterized. The type 1 fimbrillin had an apparent molecular weight of 16,500; that of the mannose-resistant fimbrillin was 18,000. The amino-terminal amino acid sequences of the two fimbrillins were related, but tryptic peptide maps showed significant differences between the proteins. No serological cross-reaction was found between the two fimbrial filaments, nor did they cross-react with type 1 or type 3 fimbriae purified from other enterobacterial species. Immunofluorescent staining of bacterial populations revealed that they were heterogeneous with respect to fimbriation.     

Production of a mannose-resistant fibrillar haemagglutinin by strains of Escherichia coli of EPEC serotype O111:H12

Two strains of Escherichia coli of serotype O111:H12 produced a mannose-resistant haemagglutinin (MREHA) of Duguid's pattern 7 that reacted strongly with the red cells of ox and sheep. These strains also adhered to HEp2-epithelial cells and formed fibrillae demonstrable by negative staining and immunogold labelling.     

Comparison of some adhesive properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from respiratory and urinary tract infections

The aim of the paper was the comparison of adhesive properties concerning pathogenic potential of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the patients with respiratory tract infections and from the patients with urinary tract infections. It was stated that P. aeruginosa strains had no haemagglutinating properties when cultured on a solid medium. Bacteria cultured in a liquid medium showed an increase of these properties in 48 h cultures as compared with 24 h cultures. They were not sensitive to heating. The haemagglutinating properties of the most strains were inhibited by D-mannose. These results seem to suggest that in P. aeruginosa strains fimbriae play an important role in adhesion. On the other hand, the mechanism of adhesion is not uniform as shows mannose-sensitivity of some strains and its lack in the other haemagglutinating strains. The most effective agglutination of human erythrocytes seems to be caused by the species specificity of the individual strains isolated from humans. The higher attachment of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the urinary tract infections than those from respiratory tract infections to "Vero" cells suggests that these two strains populations may differ in their pathogenic potential to various tissues.