Linker insertion analysis of the FimH adhesin of type 1 fimbriae in an Escherichia coli fimH-null background

Abstract The gene encoding the Escherichia coli FimH adhesin of type 1 fimbriae has been subjected to linker insertion mutagenesis. Amino acid changes were introduced at a number of positions spanning the entire sequence in order to probe the structure-function relationship of the FimH protein. The effect of these mutations on the ability of bacteria to express a D-mannose binding phenotype was assessed in a fimH null mutant (MS4) constructed by allelic exchange in the E. coli K-12 strain PC31. Mutations mapping at amino acid residues 36, 58 and 279 of the mature FimH protein were shown to completely abolish binding to D-mannose receptors. Differences in the level of fimbriation were also observed as a result of some of the mutations in the fimH gene. These mutants may prove useful in dissecting receptor-ligand interactions by defining regions of the FimH protein that are important in erythrocyte binding.     

Fimbriae of uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis

Proteus mirabilis is a common causative agent of cystitis and pyelonephritis in patients with urinary catheters or structural abnormalities of the urinary tract. Several types of fimbriae, which are potentially involved in adhesion to the uroepithelium, can be expressed simultaneously by P. mirabilis: mannose-resistant/Proteus-like (MR/P) fimbriae, P. mirabilis fimbriae (PMF), uroepithelial cell adhesin (UCA), renamed by some authors nonagglutinating fimbriae (NAF), and ambient-temperature fimbriae (ATF). Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of biofilm formation on catheter material and MR/P fimbriae are involved in this process. The considerable serious pathology caused by P. mirabilis in the urinary tract warrants the development of a prophylactic vaccine, and several studies have pointed to MR/P fimbriae as a potential target for immunization. This article reviews P. mirabilis fimbriae with regard to their participation in uropathogenesis, biofilm formation and as vaccine targets.     

Crystal structure and analysis of HdaB: The enteroaggregative Escherichia coli AAF/IV pilus tip protein

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli is the primary cause of pediatric diarrhea in developing countries. They utilize aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAFs) to promote initial adherence to the host intestinal mucosa, promote the formation of biofilms, and mediate host invasion. Five AAFs have been identified to date and AAF/IV is amongst the most prevalent found in clinical isolates. Here we present the X‐ray crystal structure of the AAF/IV tip protein HdaB at 2.0 Å resolution. It shares high structural homology with members of the Afa/Dr superfamily of fimbriae, which are involved in host invasion. We highlight surface exposed residues that share sequence homology and propose that these may function in invasion and also non‐conserved regions that could mediate HdaB specific adhesive functions.     

New aspects of the role of MR/P fimbriae in Proteus mirabilis urinary tract infection

Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infection (UTI), produces a number of different fimbriae including mannose-resistant Proteus-like fimbriae (MR/P). The precise role of different P. mirabilis fimbriae in ascending UTI has not yet been elucidated. In this study, a clinical isolate of P. mirabilis and an isogenic mutant unable to express MR/P were tested using different experimental approaches. They were tested for their ability to cause infection in an ascending co-infection model of UTI and in a haematogenous model in the mouse. In both models, the mutant was less able than the wild-type strain to colonise the lower and upper urinary tracts although infectivity was not abolished. In vitro adherence to uroepithelial cells was also assessed. Significant differences in adherence between both strains were observed at 1 h but not at 15 min post infection. We have also shown that a wild-type strain carries two copies of the mrpA gene. These data reinforce the importance of MR/P fimbriae in P. mirabilis UTI although other virulence factors may be necessary for efficient colonisation and development of infection.     

实时三维超声造影对输卵管伞端通畅性及功能的评价效果

目的:探讨实时三维超声造影对输卵管伞端通畅性及功能的评价效果。方法:选取我院2019年6月到2021年6月收治的120例因不孕症自愿接受RT 3D-HyCoSy检查的患者作为研究对象,对所有患者分别应用静态三维与实时三维超声造影,并以腹腔镜下美兰通染液检查作为金标准,记录与分析相关指标。结果:120例患者共240条输卵管,美兰通染液检查诊断发现输卵管通畅58条,阻塞/粘连182条,实时三维超声造影检查发现通畅51条,阻塞/粘连189条,静态三维通畅44条,阻塞/粘连196条,实时三维超声造影与静态三维联合通畅56条,阻塞/粘连184条。实时三维超声造影与静态三维联合诊断组、实时三维超声造影组这两组的准确度、特异度、灵敏度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值均高于静态三维组(P<0.001);120名患者通过临床综合诊断发现,35例一侧输卵管阻塞患者,64例双侧输卵管阻塞患者,21例双侧输卵管通畅患者,不同输卵管通畅性三组患者推注压力、VAS评分、造影剂注入量、造影剂返流量对比差异显著(P<0.05)、通畅与阻塞患者造影剂通过输卵管间质部时间及造影剂通过输卵管伞端时间对比差异显著(P<0.05)。结论:对于不孕症患者应用RT 3D-HyCoSy,经检查输卵管伞端粘连和通畅性,进而诊断输卵管通畅性,为不孕症的诊断与治疗提供一定的参考意见。此外,应用实时三维超声造影与静态三维超声能提升输卵管伞端通畅性诊断率,值得临床应用推广。     

Role of type I fimbriae in the aggregative adhesion pattern of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is distinguished by its characteristic aggregative adherence (AA) pattern to cultured epithelial cells. In this study we investigated the role of type I fimbriae (TIF) in the AA pattern to HEp-2 cells and in biofilm formation. Accentuation of this pattern was observed when the adherence assay was performed in the absence of mannose. This effect was observed in the prototype EAEC strain 042 (O44:H18), O128:H35 strains and for other EAEC serotypes. Antiserum against TIF decreased AA by 70% and 90% for strains 042 and 18 (O128:H35 prototype strain), respectively. A non-polar knockout of fimD, the TIF usher, in strains 042 and 18 resulted in inhibition of the accentuated AA pattern of approximately 80% and 70% respectively, and biofilm formation diminution of 49% for 042::fimD and 76% for 18::fimD. Our data evidence a role for TIF in the AA pattern and in EAEC biofilm formation, demonstrating that these phenotypes are multifactorial.     

胚胎海马伞移植物对成年大鼠海马胆碱能纤维生长的引导效应

在胚胎和新生的中枢神经系统(CNS)内,发育中的纤维束通道能引导轴突的生长。为了了解发育中的纤维束通道能否引导成年CNS轴突的生长,将胚胎海马伞移植到成年大鼠的海马,两周后,用AChE组织化学方法检查移植物内的胆碱能纤维。结果如下:在胚胎的海马伞移植物内出现大量的胆碱能纤维,但在成年的海马伞移植物内没有宿主的胆碱能纤维长入;如果在移植胚胎海马伞的同时,切断宿主的海马伞-穹窿通路,则在胚胎移植物和宿主海马内均无胆碱能纤维;将胚胎海马伞作成悬浮液进行移植,在移植部位,仅能看到少数长的胆碱能纤维;但是若把胚胎海马伞的组织碎片粘附在硝化纤维素滤纸条周围,再移植到成年大鼠海马内,来自宿主海马的大量胆碱能纤维被吸引围绕着滤纸条并沿其表面生长。结果似乎表明:胚胎海马伞或胚胎海马伞碎片都能有效引导宿主海马胆碱能纤维的生长。因此,胚胎海马伞和其它发育中的CNS纤维束通道可能是引导成年CNS轴突生长的良好天然基质。     

Epitope analysis of the FanC subunit protein of the K99 (F5) fimbriae of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli using a recombinant fusion technique

We have used a recombinant approach to characterise the B- and T-cell epitopes of FanC, the major subunit polypeptide of K99 (F5) fimbriae of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains. This involved the fusion of FanC and its carboxy-terminal truncated derivatives to a reporter, the E. coli alkaline phosphatase (PhoA), generating stable, recombinant fusions. The B-cell epitopes of FanC were characterised by Western blotting of FanC::PhoA fusion proteins with a polyclonal mouse antiserum directed against K99 fimbrial antigen, and with a panel of monoclonal antibodies generated to the K99 antigen. An attempt to characterise the T-cell epitopes of the fimbrial subunit was made by standard in vitro T-cell proliferation assay. Our results suggest that the B-cell epitopes of FanC are likely to be continuous, with a potentially immunodominant epitope at the carboxy-terminus. However, T-cell proliferation assays with the FanC::PhoA fusion proteins did not indicate any immunodominant T-cell epitope(s). We hypothesise that fusion of FanC peptides to PhoA had resulted in altered folding of the peptides for antibody and T-cell recognition, highlighting the potential problems and drawbacks of the recombinant fusion technique in defining the epitopes of certain proteins.     

Bordetella pertussis fimbriae are effective carrier proteins in Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C conjugate vaccines

Serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccines generally use diphtheria or tetanus toxoids as the protein carriers. The use of alternative carrier proteins may allow multivalent conjugate vaccines to be formulated into a single injection and circumvent potential problems of immune suppression in primed individuals. Bordetella pertussis fimbriae were assessed as carrier proteins for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C polysaccharide. Fimbriae were conjugated to the polysaccharide using modifications of published methods and characterised by size exclusion chromatography; co-elution of protein and polysaccharide moieties confirmed conjugation. The conjugates elicited boostable IgG responses to fimbriae and serogroup C polysaccharide in mice, and IgG:IgM ratios indicated that the responses were thymus-dependent. High bactericidal antibody titres against a serogroup C strain of N. meningitidis were also observed. In a mouse infection model, the conjugate vaccine protected against lethal infection with N. meningitidis. Therefore, B. pertussis fimbriae are effective carrier proteins for meningococcal serogroup C polysaccharide and could produce a vaccine to protect against meningococcal disease and to augment protection against pertussis.