Down-regulation of the kps region 1 capsular assembly operon following attachment of Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae to D-mannose receptors

Infect Immun. 2005 Feb;73(2):1226-31. doi: 10.1128/IAI.73.2.1226-1231.2005.

Abstract

A differential-display PCR procedure identified the capsular assembly gene kpsD after Escherichia coli type 1 fimbrial binding to mannose-coated Sepharose beads. Limiting-dilution reverse-transcribed PCRs confirmed down-regulation of the kpsD gene, and Northern blot and lacZ fusion analyses showed down-regulation of the kpsFEDUCS region 1 operon. KpsD protein levels fell, and an agglutination test showed less K capsular antigen on the surface following the bacterial ligand-receptor interaction. These data show that binding of type 1 fimbriae (pili) to d-mannose receptors triggers a cross talk that leads to down-regulation of the capsule assembly region 1 operon in uropathogenic E. coli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion / genetics
  • Bacterial Adhesion / physiology
  • Bacterial Capsules / genetics
  • Bacterial Capsules / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Lectins, C-Type / metabolism*
  • Mannose Receptor
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins / metabolism*
  • Periplasmic Proteins / genetics
  • Periplasmic Proteins / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology
  • Urinary Bladder / microbiology
  • Urinary Bladder / physiology

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • FtsZ84 protein, E coli
  • KpsD protein, E coli
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Mannose Receptor
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins
  • Periplasmic Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface