Role of aggregate-forming pilus (AFP) in adherence and colonization of both intestinal and urinary tracts.

Hybrid-pathogenic represent an important group of strains associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Recently, we described strain UPEC-46, a uropathogenic/enteroaggregative (UPEC/EAEC) strain presenting the aggregative adherence (AA) pattern on bladder and colorectal epithelial cells mediated by aggregate-forming pili (AFP). However, the role of AFP and other uninvestigated putative fimbriae operons in UPEC-46 pathogenesis remains unclear.