Chlorine-induced damage to surface adhesions during sublethal injury of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

A comparison of the adhesive ability of noninjured and chlorine-injured enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was made by in vitro attachment to human peripheral leukocytes. Chlorination selected for noninjured cells with greater capabilities for colonizing the small intestine. Injured populations exhibited reduced association with leukocytes. Maximum reduction was seen in populations with greater than 80% injury. These cells demonstrated less adhesive ability than nonpiliated populations. Electron micrographs suggested that reduced adhesive ability was due to the loss of surface structures as a consequence of sublethal chlorination. The data imply a reduced ability among chlorine-injured pathogens to colonize the small intestine and initiate disease.