Open AccessConstruction and characterization of type 1 non‐fimbriate and non‐adhesive mutants of Salmonella typhimurium
Author(s) -
Hancox Lisa S,
Yeh KuangSheng,
Clegg Steven
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb01099.x
Subject(s) - mutant , biology , bacterial adhesin , plasmid , gene , salmonella , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , enterobacteriaceae , bacteria , mutation , genetics , escherichia coli
Mutations in the fimH gene of Salmonella typhimurium result in a non‐fimbriate, non‐adhesive phenotype. This phenotype was shown to be due to the lack of both fimH and fimF expression since disruption of the fimH gene by insertion of a DNA cassette into this determinant results in mutants that are complemented by plasmids carrying both fimH and fimF . Deletion mutations within the S. typhimurium fimH gene carried on a recombinant plasmid can be used to complement the mutant, and these transformants are non‐adhesive but fully fimbriate, consistent with the role of FimH as being necessary for fimbrial adhesin expression. Adherence to erythrocytes, HeLa, and Hep‐2 cells is associated with expression of the FimH polypeptide, and fimbriate strains that cannot synthesize FimH are non‐adhesive. Discrete differences in the amino acid sequences of the adhesive type 1 and the non‐hemagglutinating type 2 FimH polypeptides were detected, and are most likely responsible for the differences in hemagglutinating activity.