Article
The type IV bundle-forming pilus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli undergoes dramatic alterations in structure associated with bacterial adherence, aggregation and dispersal.
Molecular microbiology - 1 Aug 1999
Knutton S, Shaw R K, Anantha R P, Donnenberg M S, Zorgani A A
Abstract excerpt
BFP, a plasmid-encoded type IV bundle-forming pilus produced by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), has recently been shown to be associated with the aggregation of bacteria and dispersal of bacteria from bacterial microcolonies. In standard 3 h HEp-2 cell assays, EPEC adhere in localized microcolonies; after 6 h, bacterial microcolonies are no longer present, indicating that bacterial aggregation and...
Topics
- Bacterial Adhesion
- Escherichia coli
- Fimbriae Proteins
- Fimbriae, Bacterial
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Membrane Proteins
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
- Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
- Mutation
- Plasmids
- Tumor Cells, Cultured