The PapG-adhesin at the tip of P-fimbriae provides Escherichia coli with a competitive edge in experimental bladder infections of cynomolgus monkeys.

• Human urinary tract infection is an infectious disease that depends on a series of host-microbial interactions. The bacteria first colonize the colon and then the periurethral/vaginal areas; they ascend to and infect first the bladder and then the kidneys. Expression of Escherichia coli P-fimbriae constitutes the strongest correlation to renal pathogenicity, but is also related to first-time cystitis in children. The role of P-fimbriae in the preceding steps in the infectious process is unknown. To examine this, we constructed, from a P-fimbriated E. coli strain with a class II G-adhesin preferentially binding to globoside, one isogenic mutant lacking the G-adhesin and another isogenic mutant in which we replaced the papG class II allele with a class III adhesin preferentially binding to the Forssman antigen. We report here the comparison of the adhesin knockout mutant (DS17-8) and the class-switch mutant (DS17-1) with the wild-type (DS17) for in vivo colonization of the gut, vagina, and bladder of cynomolgus monkeys. It was recently shown that the class II tip G-adhesin is a prerequisite for acute pyelonephritis to occur in the monkey model in the absence of other kidney-specific adhesins or obstruction of the urinary flow. Here we show that it is not required for bladder infection but gives a competitive advantage in mixed infections. In the vagina and colon, the G-adhesin gives no competitive advantage.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Andra medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Other Basic Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adhesins

Escherichia coli

physiology

Animals

Bacterial Adhesion

DNA Primers

chemistry

Escherichia coli Infections

microbiology

Female

Fimbriae Proteins

Fimbriae

Bacterial

physiology

Intestines

microbiology

Macaca fascicularis

Mutagenesis

Site-Directed

Structure-Activity Relationship

Urinary Bladder

microbiology

Vagina

microbiology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)