Fimbriation, capsulation, and iron-scavenging systems of Klebsiella strains associated with human urinary tract infection - PubMed (original) (raw)

Fimbriation, capsulation, and iron-scavenging systems of Klebsiella strains associated with human urinary tract infection

A M Tarkkanen et al. Infect Immun. 1992 Mar.

Abstract

Thirty-two strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and seven strains of Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from urinary tract infections in elderly adults were analyzed for capsular antigens, iron-scavenging systems, and fimbriation. All strains were capsulated. Twenty-seven different K antigens were identified among the strains, with no particular antigen dominating. All strains produced the iron-scavenging system enterochelin as analyzed by bioassay and DNA hybridization. In contrast, the aerobactin iron-sequestering system was not detected in any of the strains. All strains caused hemagglutination of tannin-treated human erythrocytes and reacted with an anti-type 3 fimbriae antiserum as well as in DNA hybridization with a type 3 fimbria-specific probe, indicating that the Klebsiella strains possessed this fimbrial type. Possession of type 1 fimbriae was analyzed by agglutination tests and by hybridization with DNA probes from two distinct Klebsiella type 1 fimbria gene clusters. Phenotypic expression of the type 1 fimbriae was found in 29 of 32 K. pneumoniae strains, whereas 30 strains reacted with either of the two type 1 fimbrial cluster DNA probes. In K. oxytoca, however, only three of seven strains expressed type 1 fimbriae and reacted with the DNA probes. The type 3 fimbriae were found to bind to a fraction of epithelial cells exfoliated in normal human urine, whereas the type 1 fimbriae bound strongly to urinary slime. No inhibitors of type 3 fimbrial binding were detected in human urine.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Oct;72(10):3961-5 -PubMed
    1. Lancet. 1976 Sep 4;1(7984):490-2 -PubMed
    1. Gene. 1988 Apr 29;64(2):231-40 -PubMed
    1. J Bacteriol. 1989 Mar;171(3):1262-70 -PubMed
    1. J Bacteriol. 1985 Jun;162(3):1293-301 -PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources