Studies on novel pili from Shigella flexneri. I. Detection of pili and hemagglutination activity

Microbiol Immunol. 1992;36(8):803-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1992.tb02082.x.

Abstract

Pili were detected using electron microscopy in clinical isolates of Shigella flexneri which had been continuously subcultivated in liquid media. Morphologically, the pili appeared as thin, flexible, cylindrical structures of up to 2-5 microns in length and about 3-5 nm in diameter. Two strains showed mannose-resistant (MR) hemagglutination to fresh fowl erythrocytes (type 4), and one to tannic acid-treated horse erythrocyte (type 3) pili. These pili are novel and different from the mannose-sensitive (MS) type 1 pili described by Duguid and Gillies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culture Media / pharmacology
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / ultrastructure*
  • Hemagglutination Tests
  • Hemagglutination* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mannose / pharmacology
  • Shigella flexneri / drug effects
  • Shigella flexneri / immunology*
  • Shigella flexneri / ultrastructure*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Mannose