Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Molecular Biology of Fimbriae of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

  • Chapter
Genetic Approaches to Microbial Pathogenicity

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 118))

Abstract

Particular strains of Escherichia coli that produce enterotoxins are an important cause of diarrheal disease in man and domestic animals. The ability of these enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains to adhere to the intestinal epithelium is required as an initial step in establishing diarrheal disease. The bacterial cell surface structures that are responsible for adherence have been called adhesins or colonization factors (see also GAASTRA and DE GRAAF 1982, for a recent review). A special class of adhesins is formed by the proteinaceous filamentous surface appendages called fimbriae (DUGUID et al. 1955) or pili (BRINTON 1959). These fimbrial adhesins are host specific and include K88 (ØRSKOV et al. 1964) and 987P (NAGY et al. 1976) on porcine strains; K99 (ØRSKOV et al. 1975) and F41 (DE GRAAF and ROORDA 1982; MORRIS et al. 1982) on porcine, ovine and bovine strains; and CFA/I and CFA/II (EVANS et al. 1975; EVANS and EVANS 1978) associated with strains of human origin. Some characteristics of these fimbrial adhesins are shown in Table 1. It should be noted that this list is not complete and that the number of discovered fimbrial adhesins is rapidly increasing.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Baga M, Normark S, Hardy J, O’Hanley P, Lark D, Olsson O, Schoolnik G, Falkow S (1984) Nucleotide sequence of the pap A gene encoding the pap pilus subunit of human uropathogenic Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol 157:330–333

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brinton CC (1959) Non-flagellar appendages of bacteria. Nature 183:782–786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brinton CC (1965) The structure, function, synthesis and genetic control of bacterial pili and a molecular model for DNA and RNA transport of gram negative bacteria. Trans NY Acad Sci 27:1003–1054

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Craviato A, Scotland SM, Rowe B (1982) Hemagglutination activity and colonization factor antigens I and II in enterotoxigenic and non-enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli isolated from humans. Infect Immun 36:189–197

    Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf FK, Roorda I (1982) Production, purification, and characterization of the fimbrial adhesive antigen F41 isolated from the calf enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain B41M. Infect Immun 36:751–753

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf FK, Klaasen-Boor P, Hees JE (1980 a) Biosynthesis of the K99 surface antigen is repressed by alanine. Infect Immun 30: 125–128

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf FK, Wientjes FB, Klaasen-Boor P (1980 b) Production of K99 antigen by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains of antigen groups 08, 09, 020 and 0101 grown at different conditions. Infect Immun 27:216–221

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf FK, Klemm P, Gaastra W (1980c) Purification, characterization, and partial covalent structure of Escherichia coli adhesive antigen K99. Infect Immun 33:877–833

    Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf FK, Krenn BE, Klaasen P (1984) Organization and expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of K99 fimbriae. Infect Immun 43:508–514

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duguid JP, Smith W, Dempster G, Edmunds PN (1955) Non flagellar filamentous appendages (fimbriae) and haemagglutinating activity in bacterium coli. J Pathol Bacteriol 70:335–348

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans DG, Evans DJ (1978) New surface-associated heat-labile colonization factor antigen (CFA/I) produced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli of serogroups 06 and 08. Infect Immun 21:638–647

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans DG, Silver RP, Evans DJ, Chase DG, Gorbach SL (1975) Plasmid-controlled colonization factor associated with virulence in Escherichia coli enterotoxigenic for humans. Infect Immun 12:656–667

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans DG, Evans DJ, Clegg S, Pauley J A (1979) Purification and characterization of the CFA/I antigen of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Infect Immun 25:738–748

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaastra W, De Graaf FK (1982) Host-specific fimbrial adhesins of non-invasive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains. Microbiol Rev 46:129–161

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaastra W, Mooi FR, Stuijtje AR, De Graaf FK (1981) The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the K88ab protein subunit of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Lett 12:41–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaastra W, Klemm P, De Graaf FK (1983) The nucleotide sequence of the K88ad protein subunit of porcine enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Letters 18:177–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guinee PAM, Jansen WH (1979) Behavior of Escherichia coli K antigens K88ab, K88ac and K88ad in Immunoelectrophoresis, double diffusion, and hemagglutination. Infect Immun 23: 700–705

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • lino T (1977) Genetics of structure and function of flagella. Annu Rev Genet 11:161–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isaacson RE, Richter P (1981) Escherichia coli 987P pilus: purification and partial characterization. J Bacteriol 146:784–789

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isaacson RE, Colmenero J, Richter P (1981) Escherichia coli K99 pili are composed of one subunit species. FEMS Microbiol Lett 12:229–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kehoe M, Sellwood R, Shipley P, Dougan G (1981) Genetic analysis of K88-mediated adhesion of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Nature 291:122–126

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kehoe M, Winther M, Dougan G (1983) Expression of a cloned K88ac adhesion genetic determinant: identification of a new adhesion cistron and role of a vector-encoded promoter. J Bacteriol 155:1071–1077

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King J (1980) Regulation of structural protein interactions as revealed in phage morphogenesis. In: Goldberger RF (ed) Biological regulation and development vol 2. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemm P (1981) The complete amino acid sequence of the K88 antigen, a fimbrial protein from Escherichia coli. Eur J Biochem 117:617–627

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klemm P (1982) Primary structure of the CFA/I fimbrial protein from human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains. Eur J Biochem 124:339–348

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klemm P (1984) The fimh gene encoding the type I fimbrial subunit of Escherichia coli: nucleotide sequence and primary structure of the protein. Eur J Biochem 143:395–399

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klemm P, Mikkelsen L (1982) Prediction of antigenic determinants and secondary structures of the K88 and CFA/I fimbrial proteins from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Infect Immun 38:41–45

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levine MM, Ristaino P, Marley G, Smyth C, Knutton S, Boedeker E, Black R, Young C, Clements ML, Cheney C, Patnaik R (1984) Coli surface antigens 1 and 3 of colonization factor antigen II-positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: morphology, purification and immune response in humans. Infect Immun 44:409–420

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manning PA, Achtman M (1979) Cell-to-cell interactions in conjugating Escherichia coli; the involvement of the cell envelope. In: Inouye M (ed) Bacterial outer membranes. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • McMichael JC, Ou JT (1979) Structure of common pili from Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 138:969–975

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR (1982) PhD thesis. Vrije Universiteit. Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR, De Graaf FK (1979) Isolation and characterization of K88 antigens FEMS Microbiol Lett 5:17–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR, De Graaf FK, Van Embden JDA (1979) Cloning, mapping and expression of the genetic determinant that encodes for the K88ab antigen. Nucleic Acids Res 6:849–865

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR, Harms N, Bakker D, De Graaf FK (1981) Organization and expression of genes involved in the production of the K88ab antigen. Infect Immun 32:1155–1163

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR, Wouters C, Wijfjes A, De Graaf FK (1982) Construction and characterization of mutants impaired in the biosynthesis of the K88ab antigen. J Bacteriol 150:512–521

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR, Wijfjes A, De Graaf FK (1983) Identification and characterization of precursors in the biosynthesis of the K88ab fimbria ofEscherichia coli. J Bacteriol 154:41–49

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi FR, Van Buuren M, Koopman G, Roosendaal B, De Graaf FK (1984) A K88ab gene of Escherichia coli encodes a fimbria-like protein distinct from the K88ab fimbrial adhesin. J Bacteriol 159:482–487

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris JA, Thorns CJ, Sojka WJ (1980) Evidence for two adhesive antigens on the K99 reference strain Escherichia coli B41. J Gen Microbiol 118:107–113

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris J A, Thorns CJ, Scott AC, Sojka WJ, Wells GAH (1982) Adhesion in vitro and in vivo associated with an adhesive antigen (F41) produced by a K99~ mutant of the reference strain Escherichia coli B41. Infect Immun 36:1146–1153

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mullany P, Field AM, McConnel MM, Scotland SM, Smith HR, Rowe B (1983) Expression of plasmids coding for colonization factor antigen II (CFA/II) and enterotoxin production in Escherichia coli. J Gen Microbiol 129:3591–3601

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagy B, Moon HW, Isaacson RE (1976) Colonization of porcine small intestine by Escherichia coli: ileal colonization and adhesion by pig enteropathogens that lack K88 antigen and by some acapsular mutants. Infect Immun 13:1214—1220

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norgren M, Normark S, Lark N, O’Hanley P, Schoolnik G, Falkow S, Svanborg-Eden C, Baga M, Uhlin BE (1984) Mutations in E. coli cistrons affecting adhesion to human cells do not abolish Pap pili fiber formation. EMBO J 3:1159–1165

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ørskov I, Ørskov F (1966) Episome-carried surface antigen K88 of Escherichia coli I. Transmission of the determinant of the K88 antigen and influence on the transfer of chromosomal markers. J Bacteriol 91:69–75

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ørskov I, Ørskov F, Sojka WJ and Wittig W (1964) K antigens K88ab (L) and K88ac (L) in E. coli. A new O antigen: 0147 and a new K antigen: K89 (B). Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 62:439–477

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ørskov I, Ørskov F, Smith HW, Sojka WJ (1975) The establishment of K99, a thermolabile, transmissible Escherichia coli K antigen, previously called “Kco”, possessed by calf and lamb enteropatho- genic strains. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 83:31–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Penaranda ME, Mann MB, Evans DG, Evans DJ (1980) Transfer of an ST: LT:CFA/II plasmid into Escherichia coli K12 strain RR1 by cotransformation with PSC301 plasmid DNA. FEMS Microbiol Lett 8:251–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roosendaal B, Gaastra W, De Graaf FK (1984) The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the K99 subunit of enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Letters 22:253–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shipley PL, Gyles CL, Falkow S (1978) Characterization of plasmids that encode for the K88 colonization antigen. Infect Immun 20:559–566

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shipley PL, Dougan G, Falkow S (1981) Identification and cloning of the genetic determinant that encodes for the K88ac adherence antigen. J Bacteriol 145:920–925

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silhavy TJ, Benson SA, Emr SD (1983) Mechanisms of protein localization. Microbiol Rev 47:313–344

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman M, Simon MI (1977) Bacterial flagella. Annu Rev Microbiol 31:397–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith HW, Linggood MA (1972) Further observations on Escherichia coli enterotoxins with particular regard to those produced by atypical piglet strains and by calf and lamb strains. The transmissible nature of these enterotoxins and of a K antigen possessed by calf and lamb strains. J Med Microbiol 5:243–250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith HR, Willshaw GA, Rowe B (1982) Mapping of a plasmid coding for colonization factor antigen I and heat-stabile enterotoxin production, isolated from an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 149:264–275

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith HR, Scotland SM, Rowe B (1983) Plasmids that code for production of colonization factor antigen II and enterotoxin production in strains of Escherichia coli. Infect Immun 40:1236–1239

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth CJ (1982) Two mannose-resistant haemagglutinins on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli of serotype 06:K5:H16 or H- isolated from travellers’ and infantile diarrhea. J Gen Microbiol 128:2081–2096

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth CJ (1984) Serologically distinct fimbriae on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli of serotype 06:K15:H16 or H-;. FEMS Microbiol Lett 21:51–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stirm S, Orskov I, Orskov F, Birch-Andersen A (1967) Episome-carried surface antigen K88 of.Escherichia coli. III. Morphology. J Bacteriol 93:740–748

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stueber D, Bujard H (1981) Organization of transcriptional signals in plasmid pBR322 and pA-CYC184. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 78:167–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tinoco I, Borer PN, Dengler B, Levine MD, Uhlenbeck OC, Crothers DM, Gralla J (1973) Improved estimation of secondary structure in ribonucleic acids. Nature 246:40–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Die I, Van Megen I, Hoekstra W, Bergmans H (1984) Molecular organization of the genes involved in the production of F7 2 fimbriae, causing mannose resistant hemagglutination of a uropathogenic Escherichia coli 06:K2:H1:F7 strain. MGG 194:528–533

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Doom J, Oudega B, Mooi FR, De Graaf FK (1982) Subcellular localization of polypeptides involved in the biosynthesis of K88ab fimbriae. FEMS Microbiol Letters 13:99–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Embden JDA, De Graaf FK, Schouls LM, Teppema JS (1980) Cloning and expression of a deoxyribonucleic acid fragment that encodes for the adhesive antigen K99. Infect Immun 29:1125–1133

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watts TH, Kay CM, Parenchych W (1983) Spectral properties of three quarternary arrangements of Pseudomonas pilin. Biochemistry 22:3640–3636

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willshaw GA, Smith HR, McConnel MM, Barclay EA, Krajulac J, Rowe B (1982) Genetic and molecular studies of plasmids coding for colonization factor antigen I and heat-stable enterotoxin in several Escherichia coli sero types. Infect Immun 37:858–868

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willshaw GA, Smith HR and Rowe B (1983) Cloning of regions encoding colonization factor antigen I and heat-stable enterotoxin in Escherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Letters 16:101–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, NL-1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    F. R. Mooi & F. K. de Graaf

Authors
  1. F. R. Mooi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. K. de Graaf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für genetik und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, D-8700, Würzburg, Germany

    W. Goebel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mooi, F.R., de Graaf, F.K. (1985). Molecular Biology of Fimbriae of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli . In: Goebel, W. (eds) Genetic Approaches to Microbial Pathogenicity. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 118. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70586-1_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70586-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70588-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70586-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation