Adhesive Properties Associated with the Vir Plasmid: A Transmissible Pathogenic Characteristic Associated with Strains of Invasive Escherichia coli

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Abstract
E. coli strain S5 (O15:K+:H21) isolated from a septicemic lamb and previously shown to possess a virulence plasmid, Vir, attached in vitro to calf epithelial tissue from the ileum, esophagus and trachea in the presence of 0.5% (wt/vol) D-mannose. The Vir+ recombinant strains 711v and H209av, which had received the Vir plamsid(s) from strain S5, also attached to these epithelia but the parent strains 711 and H209a without the Vir plasmid were non-adhesive. The attachment of the Vir+ strain 711v to intestinal brush borders was inhibited by antiserum to live Vir+ strain H209av but not by antiserum to strain H209a lacking Vir. No adherence occurred with Vir+ organisms grown at 18.degree. C or after heating at 65.degree. C. Adhesion was unaffected by 0.5% (wt/vol) formaldehyde. Glucosamine, mannosamine, their N-acetyl derivatives and wheat germ lectin each inhibited attachment of Vir+ strain 711v to brush border epithelia.