Curli fimbria production among Escherichia coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea and healthy children

E. coli curli fimbria are produced during starvation and at room temperature. In the study curli synthesis among E. coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea and healthy children was investigated at human body temperature and in the variable atmosphere conditions: aerobic, supplemented with CO2 and anaerobic. The ability of curli synthesis was estimated using qualitative and quantitative methods basing on Congo red binding by curli. Curli production of all E. coli strains examined was observed at temperature 37 degrees C during anaerobic cultivation, confirming their role in colonization of intestinal mucosa.