Molecular evidence for pap-G specific adhesion of Escherichia coli to human renal cells

J Urol. 1997 Jan;157(1):346-50.

Abstract

Purpose: To study the interaction between class II G-adhesin of Escherichia coli and human urogenital cells.

Material and methods: The adherence of two wild type P-fimbriated E. coli strains, both carrying a class II G-adhesion, and two constructed mutants (one class II G-adhesion knock-out mutant and one class switch mutant in which the papG gene was exchanged with a prsJ96 allele which is a representative of the class III G-adhesin) to human urogenital cells were examined by light microscopy and flow cytometry.

Results: The wild type E. coli strains adhered avidly to proximal tubular cells, but the isogenic mutant strains did only adhere in one of the experiments. A soluble receptor analogue inhibited bacterial attachment.

Conclusions: These experiments strongly suggest that the papG class II tip adhesin of P-fimbriae is essential in the pathogenesis of human kidney infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / genetics
  • Adhesins, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Adhesins, Escherichia coli / physiology*
  • Bacterial Adhesion / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fimbriae Proteins*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology*
  • Mutation

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Adhesins, Escherichia coli
  • PapG protein, E coli
  • Fimbriae Proteins