The role of the ability of Sh. flexneri to synthesize pili of the common type in the development of dysenteric infections
Bondarenki, V.M.; Petrovskaia, V.G.; Maslova, T.N.; Pereverzev, N.A.; Burd, G.I.
Zhurnal Mikrobiologii Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii 3: 31-36
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0372-9311 PMID: 1092108 Document Number: 91673
HEp-2 epithelial cells infected with isogenic Sh. flexneri strains characterized by capacity to synthesize common pili (confirmed by electron microscopy) were studied. It was shown that although pili promoted an earlier adhesion of shigellae to the cells, they were not very significant for the penetration and intracellular development of dysentery bacilli in the epithelium. The use of bacteria labeled with 3H-glucose offers a possibility of an objective rapid and precise determination of the capacity of the microbes to adhere to the cell surface.