Authors: D Padilla F Acosta J A García F Real Jose R Vivas
Publish Date: 2008/11/15
Volume: 191, Issue: 3, Pages: 191-198
Abstract
Hafnia alvei a Gram negative bacillus related to the Enterobacteriaceae family is considered an opportunistic pathogen of several animal species and humans In this communication we describe fimbriallike structures from different strains of H alvei that cannot be easily ascribed to any of the previously reported fimbrial types in this species type I or type III Polymerase chain reaction PCR and immunofluorescence assays were carried out to study fimbriae and flagella in H alvei strains isolated from different sources No correlation between the results obtained by PCR and those obtained by phenotypic methods were found and the antibodies used gave cross or different recognition patterns of the surface structures present in these strains We report as well that strain and growth temperature influence fimbriation and expression of flagella in human and animal isolates of H alvei This study also indicates that the absence of fimbriae have a significant positive influence on the initial adhesion of H alvei to human epithelial cells
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