Mannose-resistant haemagglutination and P antigen recognition are characteristic of Escherichia coli causing primary pyelonephritis
Väisänen, V.; Elo, J.; Tallgren, L.G.; Siitonen, A.; Mäkelä, P.H.; Svanborg-Edén, C.; Källenius, G.; Svenson, S.B.; Hultberg, H.; Korhonen, T.
Lancet 2(8260-61): 1366-1369
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 6171696 Document Number: 170011
E. coli strains (32) from 30 children with pyelonephritis were examined for their hemagglutination patterns and O and K serotypes. Of the strains, 29 (91%) showed mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA). By use of well-defined target cells, these MRHA+ strains could be shown to recognize human cells either in a P-specific manner (recognizing a specific galactosyl-galactose structure which is part of P blood group antigens) or in a separate, X-specific manner. Both recognition mechanisms could occur separately or together on the same bacteria, the frequencies of P and X specificity being 81 and 19%, respectively. Both MRHA and P specificity were significantly associated with the O antigens 01, 04, 06, 016, and 018, and the capsular antigen K1, which have previously been associated with pyelonephritis. The association of MRHA and P specificity with upper urinary tract infection in children is greater than that of any other laboratory-defined bacterial characteristic.