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.