Virulence of aProteus mirabilisATF isogenic mutant is not impaired in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2000.tb01516.x
• Publication Date: 2006-01-10T08:00:56Z
• Authors: Pablo Zunino; Liliana Geymonat; Andrew G. Allen; Carmen Legnani-Fa...; Duncan J. Maskell
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Antibodies, Viral; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Phenotype; Mutagenesis; Fimbriae, Bacterial; Mutation; Urinary Tract Infections; Animals; Female; Proteus Infections; Proteus mirabilis; Alleles

Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infection, produces number different fimbriae, including ambient temperature fimbriae (ATF). These are optimally expressed at 23°C and their contribution to infection has so far remained unknown. In the present study, clinical isolate P. mirabilis an isogenic allelic replacement mutant unable express ATF were tested for ability in ascending model mice. The atf colonised as well wild-type strain was also able outcompete co-challenge experiment. Different non-clinical isolates showed reactive AtfA band after Western blot analysis using polyclonal rabbit antiserum. data together suggest that does not play role infection.