DR FIMBRIAE OPERON OF UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI MEDIATE MICROTUBULE-DEPENDENT INVASION TO THE HELA EPITHELIAL-CELL LINE

Escherichia coli Dr adhesin and decay-accelerating factor (DAF) recept or-mediated interaction was proposed as the mechanism of ascending uri nary tract infection (UTI) and chronic interstitial nephritis. This re port provides novel evidence for Dr fimbriae operon-mediated invasive capacity of Dr(+) E. coli. Insertional mutants draE, draC, and draB, a nd adherent draD and UV-inactivated BN406 were unable to enter HeLa ce lls. Complementation of the dra mutation Pestered invasiveness. Intern alization was inhibited by anti-Dr fimbriae IgG (100%): anti-SCR-3 dom ain of DAF (75%), and nocodazole (95%). Increased receptor-ligand dens ity occurred at the site of Internalization. Internalized Dr(+) E. col i did not significantly multiply in the HeLa cell line, Accordingly, t he dra operon and DAF were required for microtubule-dependent internal ization of E. coli to HeLa cells. The relatively low invasion and mult iplication rates of Dr(+) E. coli may hypothetically contribute to the postattachment steps of ascending UTI and chronic renal infection.