A STUDY OF THE ADHESIVE CAPACITY OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI STRAIN BD-1107/7508 (K88AC) IN RELATION TO GROWTH-PHASE

It has previously been reported that the relative rate of synthesis of K88 fimbriae was influenced by the growth phase of Escherichia coli K88. Consequently, the effect of growth phase on the adhesive capacity of the K88 bearing cells of E. coli strain Bd 1107/7508 (K88ac) has now been investigated. The adhesion process was studied in terms of adhesion to and affinity for the immobilized piglet ileal mucus, the latter by applying Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The amount of K88 fimbriae per cell was determined by both the ELISA technique and by quantitative 1 D-gel electrophoresis. The adhesion to, as well as the affinity for the mucus receptors was shown to be rather constant throughout growth. In agreement with these findings the cells collected at the different growth phases were found to be equally fimbriated. From these results it is concluded that, although the relative synthesis rate of K88 fimbriae varied during the growth cycle, the amount of K88 fimbriae expressed on the E. coli cell surface and the adhesive capacity of E. coli strain Bd 1107/7508 is largely constant throughout growth. © 1993 Academic Press.