complex interplay between type 1 fimbrial expression and flagellum-mediated motility of uropathogenic Escherichia coli

J Bacteriol. 2007 Aug;189(15):5523-33. doi: 10.1128/JB.00434-07. Epub 2007 May 18.

Abstract

Type 1 fimbriae and flagella have been previously shown to contribute to the virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) within the urinary tract. In this study, the relationship between motility and type 1 fimbrial expression was tested for UPEC strain CFT073 by examining the phenotypic effect of fimbrial expression on motility and the effect that induction of motility has on type 1 fimbrial expression. While constitutive expression of type 1 fimbriae resulted in a significant decrease in motility and flagellin expression (P < 0.0001), a loss of type 1 fimbrial expression did not result in increased motility. Additionally, hypermotility and flagellar gene over- and underexpression were not observed to affect the expression of type 1 fimbriae. Hence, it appeared that the relationship between type 1 fimbrial expression and motility is unidirectional, where the overexpression of type 1 fimbriae dramatically affects motility and flagellum expression but not vice versa. Moreover, the constitutive expression of type 1 fimbriae in UPEC cystitis isolate F11 and the laboratory strain E. coli K-12 MG1655 also resulted in decreased motility, suggesting that this phenomenon is not specific to CFT073 or UPEC in general. Lastly, by analyzing the repression of motility caused by constitutive type 1 fimbrial expression, it was concluded that the synthesis and presence of type 1 fimbriae at the bacterial surface is only partially responsible for the repression of motility, as evidenced by the partial restoration of motility in the CFT073 fim L-ON DeltafimAICDFGH mutant. Altogether, these data provide further insight into the complex interplay between type 1 fimbrial expression and flagellum-mediated motility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Chemotaxis
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / physiology*
  • Escherichia coli / ultrastructure
  • Fimbriae Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / ultrastructure
  • Flagella / genetics
  • Flagella / physiology*
  • Flagella / ultrastructure
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Locomotion
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Operon

Substances

  • Fimbriae Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid