Immunity to Escherichia coli in Pigs: Adhesion of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to Isolated Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Abstract

A method was developed to test for the ability of Escherichia coli to adhere to isolated intestinal epithelial cells. Of the E. coli tested, those having either K88ac or K88ab antigens adhered to the cells, and those which did not have these antigens did not. Since some enteropathogenic E. coli did not have the ability to adhere, it is assumed that adherence is not an essential factor of pathogenesis but rather should be considered an enhancement to the pathogenicity of some E. coli. None of the E. coli enteropathogens of cattle tested adhered to either pig or cattle cells. Similarly, human strains did not adhere to pig cells. Although the test system may not have been ideal for human or bovine E. coli, the results reported here suggest that adhesiveness is a property limited to porcine enteropathogenic E. coli carrying one of the K88 antigens. Adhesiveness is associated with the K88c or K88b antigens, and their adhesive ability is only neutralizable by the homologous antisera.

In vitro inhibition of adhesion of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 to piglet intestinal mucus by egg-yolk antibodies

“…Four 14 þ 2-day-old healthy Cotswold piglets were obtained from the Glenlea Swine Research Unit, University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada). The piglets used in this study were of the K88 susceptible phenotype, as K88 bearing E. coli MB was able to bind to the intestinal epithelial cell when tested microscopically using the procedure described by Wilson and Hohmann [18]. All of the small intestinal mucus used in the present study was isolated from the piglets using the procedure of Laux et al [17].…”

Characterization and molecular cloning of the PCF8775 CS5 antigen from an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli 0115:H40 isolated in Central Australia

“…It is generally accepted that there are two major virulence factors in ETEC: toxins, either ST or LT, which are responsible for the secretion of fluid into the gut and subsequent diarrhoea, and colonization factor antigens {CFA) which can be either fimbrial or fJbrillar in nature (Gaastra and de Graaf, 1982;Sussman, 1985: Parry andRooke, 1985). It is ttiought that these structures allow adherence to the gut epithelium, thus permitting stable colonization (Jones, 1977;Wilson and Hohmann, 1978;Isaacson etai, 1978).…”

Current and Future Applications of Monoclonal Antibodies against Bacteria in Veterinary Medicine

“…The K88 antigen was first described in 1961 as a serologically distinct antigen associated with E. coli strains isolated from pigs with edema disease and neonatal enteritis (105). It was later demonstrated that the K88 antigen was an adherence factor which facilitated colonization of the small intestine (6,65,158). This was confirmed by several in vivo and in vitro studies wherein adherence of K88-positive EPEC to intestinal villous epithelium was blocked by antisera against the K88 antigen (65,134,138,158).…”

“…It was later demonstrated that the K88 antigen was an adherence factor which facilitated colonization of the small intestine (6,65,158). This was confirmed by several in vivo and in vitro studies wherein adherence of K88-positive EPEC to intestinal villous epithelium was blocked by antisera against the K88 antigen (65,134,138,158). Based on these findings, vaccine trials were carried out and demonstrated that sows vaccinated with K88-positive EPEC would produce high levels of colostral K88-specific antibody which would passively protect newborn suckling pigs from enteric disease produced by K88-positive EPEC (119,120).…”