Open AccessCorrelation of genes in the pap gene cluster to expression of globoside‐specific adhesin by uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Ekbäck Gustav,
Mörner Stellan,
Lund Björn,
Normark Staffan
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1986.tb01436.x
Subject(s) - bacterial adhesin , escherichia coli , pilus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , virulence , fimbria , gene , gene cluster , hybridization probe , phase variation , enterobacteriaceae , dot blot , southern blot , virulence factor , genetics
Expression of globoside‐specific pilus adhesin of Escherichia coli is the virulence factor most commonly associated with pyelonephritis. In the clinical isolate J96 (O4:K6:H5) expression of globoside binding pili require the proteins encoded by the papE, papF , and papG genes in the pap gene cluster. Probes derived from these genes were used in dot blot hybridization analysis of E. coli urinary tract isolates obtained from patients with significant bacteriuria. Fecal E. coli isolates from healthy individuals were also analyzed. The probe encompassing the papF and papF J96 genes hybridized to all urinary tract infectious (UTI) isolates expressing globoside‐specific adhesin, whereas papG J96 only hybridized to the strain from which the fragment was cloned. In contrast, a papG ‐specific probe from the O:6 strain IA2 hybridized to all but one of the UTI isolates that expressed the adhesin. In both materials, but especially among the fecal isolates, strains were found that hybridized to the probes but did not express the adhesin. The data shows that papEF ‐specific DNA can be used for the diagnosis of potentially pyelonephritic E. coli .