The role of pili in the adhesion of Escherichia coli to human urinary tract epithelial cells.

Pili or fimbriae were purified by a new technique involving solubilization from the bacterial outer membrane by deoxycholate and separation from flagella by 6M urea. This technique was employed to clarify the role of pili for the adherence of urinary tract pathogenic E. coli; a virulence factor in urinary tract infection.

Mannose-resistant haemagglutination and P antigen recognition are characteristic of Escherichia coli causing primary pyelonephritis.

Thirty-two Escherichia coli strains from 30 children with pyelonephritis were examined for their haemagglutination patterns and O and K serotypes. 29 (91%) of the strains showed mannose-resistant haemagglutination (MRHA). By use of well-defined target cells, these MRHA+ strains could be shown to recognise human cells either in a P-specific manner (recognising a specific galactosyl-galactose structure which is part of P blood groups antigens) or in a separate, X-specific manner.