Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enhanced virulence effect of K1 polysaccharide in neonatal rats challenged withE. coli

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purified K1 polysaccharide enhanced the virulence of non-K1Escherichia coli species when given by orogastric feeding to neonatal rats. Neonatal rats developedE. coli bacteremia when K1 polysaccharide was given concomitantly with non-K1E. coli, whereasE. coli bacteremia did not develop when non-K1E. coli was given alone.E. coli K1 species did cause bacteremia and meningitis when fed to neonatal rats. The mechanism by which k1 polysaccharide enhances virulence can be studied with this model of bacteremia development in neonatal rats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Davis, C. P., Avots-Avotins, A. E., Fader, R. C. 1981. Evidia coli and the effect of neuraminic acid and colominic acid on adherence. Infection and Immunity34:944–948.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Glode, M. P., Sutton, R., Moxon, E. R., Robbins, J. B. 1977. Pathogenesis of neonatal Escherichia coli meningitis: induction of bacteremia and meningitis in infant rats fed E. coli K1. Infection and Immunity16:75–80.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gotschlich, E. C., Liu, T. H., Artenstein, M. S. 1969. Human immunity to the Meningococcus. Preparation and immunochemical properties of group A, group B, and group C meningococcal polysaccharides. Journal of Experimental Medicine129:1349–1365.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Horwitz, M. A., Silberstein, S. C. 1980. Influence of Escherichia coli capsule on complement fixation and on phagocytosis and killing by human phagocytes. Journal of Clinical Investigations65:82–94.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Howard, C. J., Glynn, A. A. 1971. The virulence for mice of strains of Escherichia coli related to the effects of K antigen on their resistance to phagocytosis and killing by complement. Immunology20:767–777.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kaijser, B. 1973. Immunology of Escherichia coli K antigen and its relation to urinary-tract infection. Journal of Infectious Disease127:670–677.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Moxon, E. R., Ostrow, P. T. 1977. Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in infant rats: role of bacteremia in pathogenesis of age dependent inflammatory responses in cerebrospinal fluid. Journal of Infectious Disease135:303–307.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Robbins, J. B., McCracken, G. H., Gotschlich, E. C., Orskov, I., Hanson, L. A. 1974. Escherichia coli K1 capsular polysaccharide associated with neonatal meningitis. New England Journal of Medicine290:1216–1220.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sarff, L. D., McCracken, G. H., Schiffer, M. S., Glode, M. P., Robbins, J. B., Orskov, I., Orskov, F. 1975. Epidemiology of Escherichia coli K1 in healthy and diseased newborns. The Lanceti:1099–1104.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stevens, P., Huang, S. N., Welch, W. D., Young, L. S. 1978. Restricted complement activation by Escherichia coli with the K1 capsular serotype: A possible role in pathogenicity. Journal of Immunology121:2174–2180.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Van Dijk, W. C., Verburgh, H. A., Peters, R., Van DerTol, M. E., Peterson, P. K., Verhoef, J. 1979. Escherichia coli K antigen in relation to serum induced lysis and phagocytosis. Journal of Medical Microbiology12:123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Van Dijk, W. C., Verbrugh, H. A., Van DerTol, M. E., Peters, R., Verhoef, J. 1979. Role of Escherichia coli K capsular antigens during complement activation, C3 fixation and opsonization. Infection and Immunity25:603–609.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wolberg, G., Dewitt, C. W. 1969. Mouse virulence of K(L) antigen-containing strains of Escherichia coli. Journal of Bacteriology100:730–737.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, 37614, Johnson City, TN

    Steven L. Berk, Phyllis Neumann & David S. Chi

  2. Veterans Administration Medical Center, 37614, Johnson City, TN

    Steven L. Berk

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, 37614, Johnson City, TN

    J. Kelly Smith

Authors
  1. Steven L. Berk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Phyllis Neumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David S. Chi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Kelly Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berk, S.L., Neumann, P., Chi, D.S. et al. Enhanced virulence effect of K1 polysaccharide in neonatal rats challenged withE. coli . Current Microbiology 8, 297–299 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01577731

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01577731

Keywords

Search

Navigation