Uropathogenic Escherichia coli adhere to urinary catheters without using fimbriae |
| |
| Authors: | Gregor Reid Henny C van der Mei Christina Tieszer Henk J Busscher |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada;The Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada;Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Centre, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, Ont. N6A 4V2, Canada;Laboratory for Materia Technica, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract Five well-characterized urinary and fecal isolates of Escherichia coli were found to be hydrophilic irrespective of their serotypes and their ability to express fimbriae. All the strains were able to adhere to silicone latex urinary catheters, although strain 917, which expressed type P fimbriae as its only adhesin, adhered poorly. Although specific adhesins, particularly fimbriae, have been shown to mediate adhesion of E. coli to uroepithelial cells, they do not mediate specific adhesion onto urinary catheter material. The overall surfaces of the strains, tested using microelectrophoresis as a function of pH and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were not significantly different, thus suggesting more non-specific adhesion mechanisms to urinary catheters. |
| |
| Keywords: | Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Fimbria Catheter |
|
|
