ADHERENCE OF TYPE 1 FIMBRIATED ESCHERICHIA COLI TO UROEPITHELIAL CELLS OF WOMEN WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Adherence of type 1 fimbriated Echerichia coli to uroepithelial cells of diabetic and non-diabetic women as well as the inhibition of adherence by the presence of anti-type 1 fimbriae at different dilutions have been studied. One hundred thirty nine isolates were collected from different clinical sources. Ninety isolates were characterized as E. coli by morphological, microscopic and biochemical tests. Sixty one % of the E. coli isolates were identified as being type 1 fimbriated, mannose sensitive hemagglutination (MSHA) and the rest (39%) as being non-type 1 fimbriated, mannose resistant hemaggllutination (MRHA). The number of type 1 fimbriated E. coli adhered to uroepithelial cells isolated from diabetic women (41.04 ± 2.43) was about twice that of control (16.48 ± 2.3). Partially purified type 1 fimbriated E. coli was mixed with Freund s adjuvant (CFA and IFA) and subsequently injected subcutaneously into rabbits via three injections in 2 weeks intervals. Anti-type 1 fimbriae (antibodies ) that had been raised in rabbit blood serum were pre-incubated with type 1 fimbrated E. coli. Inhibition in adherence ranged between 62 to 72 % depending on the dilution of antisera. Moreover, it has been found that low dilution of antisera causes higher inhibition of type 1 fimbriated E. coli to diabetic uroepithelial cells.