-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
H. W. Moon, B. Nagy, R. E. Isaacson, Intestinal Colonization and Adhesion by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: Ultrastructural Observations on Adherence to Ileal Epithelium of the Pig, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 136, Issue Supplement_1, August 1977, Pages S124–S129, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/136.Supplement.S124
- Share Icon Share
Abstract
Colonization of pig ileum by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli that were enteropathogenic for pigs but that lacked K88 antigen (K88-) resulted in morphological characteristics similar to those reported for K88+ strains. Strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli from three different K88- serotypes adhered to the villous epithelium. In sections examined by transmission electron microscopy, adherent bacteria were separated from each other and from epithelial microvilli by peribacterial electron-lucent regions. The enterotoxigenic E. coli had appendages that extended into these regions. The appendages were morphologically characteristic for each strain. It is possible that these appendages were pili, polysaccharide K antigens, or structures resulting from some interaction between pili and polysaccharide. Certain pili or pilus-like structures may be virulence attributes that facilitate adhesion of enterotoxigenic E. coli to the intestinal epithelium.