Type 1 piliated uropathogenic hijack the host immune response by binding to CD14.

A key attribute of persistent or recurring bacterial infections is the ability of the pathogen to evade the host's immune response. Many express type 1 pili, a pre-adapted virulence trait, to invade host epithelial cells and establish persistent infections. However, the molecular mechanisms and strategies by which bacteria actively circumvent the immune response of the host remain poorly understood.