Haemagglutinins and Adhesion of Escherichia Coli To Hep2 Epithelial Cells

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Abstract
Strains of Escherichia coli producing type-1 fimbriae, associated with mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin (MSHA), or three antigenetically different kinds of ''MRE'' fimbriae, associated with mannose-resistant and eluting haemagglutinins (MREHAs), adhered poorly to HEp2 epithelial cells in an in-vitro adhesion model previously used to demonstrate the importance of motility and type-1 fimbriae for the attachment of strains of Salmonella typhimurium to HEp2 cells. Strains of E coli producing narrow-spectrum MREHA, agglutinating human erythrocytes only of 14 red-cell species tested, adhered well to HEp2 cells, particularly so when bacteria produced MSHA (and type 1 fimbriae) along with the narrow-spectrum ''man-only'' MREHA. These findings are discussed with regard to recent observations suggesting that narrow-spectrum ''man-only'' MREHA in E. coli may be associated with fine, fibrillar appendages 2-nm wide.