Adhesion in vitro and in vivo associated with an adhesive antigen (F41) produced by a K99 mutant of the reference strain Escherichia coli B41.

A K99-negative mutant of the K99 reference strain Escherichia coli B41 (O101:K99) was isolated (strain B41M). It did not react with OK antiserum to a K12 K99+ recombinant or with OK antiserum to K99-positive organisms from the O8, O20, or O64 serogroups, but it did react with OK antiserum to K99-positive organisms from the O101 and O9 serogroups. The mutant hemagglutinated sheep erythrocytes and attached in vitro to calf enterocytes when cultured at 37 degrees C but not when grown at 18 degrees C. Attachment was mannose resistant but susceptible to heating and formaldehyde. These properties were associated with the presence of fimbriae. The isolated hemagglutinin migrated to the anode in immunoelectrophoresis experiments, competitively inhibited attachment of strain B41M to calf enterocytes, and could be demonstrated adhering to these cells in vitro by indirect immunofluorescent staining. The anionic hemagglutinin is referred to provisionally as F41. Germfree piglets infected with strain B41M developed diarrhea within 16 h. Scanning electron microscopy showed groups of bacteria adherent to the microvilli of villous enterocytes. Indirect immunofluorescent staining demonstrated the presence of F41 antigen in vivo.