ADHERENCE AND PATHOGENESIS OF SALMONELLA-ENTERITIDIS IN MICE

Adherence of many pathogenic organisms to the host cells has been associated with the presence of fimbriae. The exact role of these organelles in the adherence and pathogenesis of Salmonella enteritidis is not well established. Utilizing hemagglutination tests, S. enteritidis was shown to possess type 1 and type 3 fimbriae. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the isolated fimbriae showed that typ e 1 and 3 fimbriae of S. enteritidis had submit M.r of 17 and 22 kDa, respe ctively. In vitro adherence assays suggested that S. enteritidis utilized type 1 fimbriae to adhere to human buccal and mouse small intestine epithel ial cells. In addition, antibody produced against type 1 and type 3 fimbriae protected the mice from infection with a lethal dose of S. enterit idis. These results suggest that type 1 and possibly type 3 fimbriae are i nvolved in the adherence and pathogenesis of S. enteritidis. The data furt her suggest that they may have a role in the adherence and pathogenesis of the other enteric organisms.