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Rapid identification of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli by a receptor-specific particle agglutination test

Identifizierung von P-Fimbrientragenden Escherichia coli mit Rezeptor-spezifischer Partikel-Agglutination

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Summary

Most (>90%)Escherichia coli strains isolated from children with acute non-obstructive pyelonephritis exhibit a specific type of filamentous protein appendage known as P-fimbriae. These fimbriae enable the bacterium to adhere to human uroepithelial cells by the specific recognition of and binding to a particular class of glycosphingolipids correlated to the human P-blood group antigens. In this paper a new method for the rapid and reliable identification of such P-fimbriated pyelonephritogenic bacteria is described. The method is based on particles to which the minimal glycoside receptor structure recognized by P-fimbriae is attached. Mixing these receptor-containing particles with P-fimbriated bacteria results in a strong and immediate agglutination reaction. The specificity and sensitivity of this new particle agglutination test proved to be superior to the haemagglutination assay previously used.

Zusammenfassung

Die meisten (mehr als 90%) der von Kindern mit akuter, nicht obstruktiver Pyelonephritis isoliertenEscherichia coli-Stämme weisen einen spezifischen Typ von filamentösen Protein-Anhangsstrukturen auf, die als P-Fimbrien bekannt sind. Diese Fimbrien befähigen das Bakterium, sich an menschliche Urothelien anzuheften. Dabei erkennen die Fimbrien spezifisch Glykosphingolipide einer bestimmten Klasse, die mit den menschlichen P-Blutgruppenantigenen in Beziehung stehen, und binden sich an sie. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird eine neue Methode zur raschen und sicheren Identifizierung von solchen P-Fimbrien-tragenden pyelonephritogenen Bakterien beschrieben. Die Methode basiert darauf, daß die kleinsten, von P-Fimbrien erkennbaren Strukturen des Glykosid-Rezeptors an Partikel gebunden werden. Die Mischung dieser Rezeptor-tragenden Partikel mit P-Fimbrien-tragenden Bakterien führt zu einer starken, sofortigen Agglutinationsreaktion. Dieser neue Partikelagglutinationstest erwies sich in Spezifität und Sensibilität als dem früher verwandten Hämagglutinationstest überlegen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, National Bacteriological Laboratory, S-105 21, Stockholm

    S. B. Svenson Ph. D., G. Källenius M. D. &  R. Möllby M. D.

  2. Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, University of Stockholm, S-106 91, Stockholm

    H. Hultberg Ph. D.

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska Hospital, Karolinska Institute, S-104 01, Stockholm

    J. Winberg M. D.

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  1. S. B. Svenson Ph. D.
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  2. G. Källenius M. D.
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  3. R. Möllby M. D.
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  4. H. Hultberg Ph. D.
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  5. J. Winberg M. D.
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Svenson, S.B., Källenius, G., Möllby, R. et al. Rapid identification of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli by a receptor-specific particle agglutination test. Infection 10, 209–214 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666912

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666912

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