This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fader, R C Articles by Davis, C P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fader, R C Articles by Davis, C P

Evidence for pili-mediated adherence of Klebsiella pneumoniae to rat bladder epithelial cells in vitro.

ABSTRACT

The possible role of pili in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied in an in vitro mixture of a phosphate-buffered saline suspension of rat bladder epithelial cells and phosphate-buffered saline-washed K. pneumoniae. Nonpiliated and piliated populations derived from a single K. pneumoniae strain were obtained by controlling the total time of growth in broth medium. The piliated phase demonstrated a significant increase in adherence when compared to the nonpiliated phase. Incubation of the bacteria and epithelial cell mixture at 4 and 37 degrees C resulted in no differences in adherence; optimal adherence occurred at pH 5. Pretreatment of the bacteria with enzymes to destroy the pili resulted in a decrease in adherence, as did killing the bacteria by various means before adherence testing. Pretreatment of the epithelial cells with certain saccharides inhibited bacterial adherence. Finally, a 96% decrease in adherence was observed after coincubation of bacteria and epithelial cells with papain-treated antipili antibodies. Thus, it appears that pili on the surface of K. pneumoniae mediate attachment of the bacteria to rat bladder epithelial cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Rosen, D. A., Pinkner, J. S., Jones, J. M., Walker, J. N., Clegg, S., Hultgren, S. J. (2008). Utilization of an Intracellular Bacterial Community Pathway in Klebsiella pneumoniae Urinary Tract Infection and the Effects of FimK on Type 1 Pilus Expression. Infect. Immun. 76: 3337-3345 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• PODSCHUN, R., FISCHER, A., ULLMANN, U. (2001). Characterisation of Hafnia alvei isolates from human clinical extra-intestinal specimens: haemagglutinins, serum resistance and siderophore synthesis. J Med Microbiol 50: 208-214 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Favre-Bonte, S., Joly, B., Forestier, C. (1999). Consequences of Reduction of Klebsiella pneumoniae Capsule Expression on Interactions of This Bacterium with Epithelial Cells. Infect. Immun. 67: 554-561 [Abstract] [Full Text]