@article{mbs:/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-31-3-175, author = "BLANCO, J. and ALONSO, M. P. and GONZALEZ, E. A. and BLANCO, M. and GARABAL, J. I.", title = "Virulence factors of bacteraemic Escherichia coli with particular reference to production of cytotoxic necrotising factor (CNF) by P-fimbriate strains", journal= "Journal of Medical Microbiology", year = "1990", volume = "31", number = "3", pages = "175-183", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/00222615-31-3-175", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-31-3-175", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1473-5644", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Summary Thirty-seven strains of Escherichia coli isolated from bacteraemia and 40 faecal strains isolated from healthy individuals were O serogrouped and investigated for the production of colicins, haemolysin (Hly), cytotoxic necrotising factor (CNF), lethal activity for mice, the expression of P fimbriae, mannose-resistant (MRHA) and mannose-sensitive (MSHA) haemagglutination, and relative cell surface hydrophobicity. Virulence factors significantly associated with bacteraemic strains were: serogroups O2, O4, O6, O7, O8 and O75 (54% versus 10%, p≪0.001), production of Hly (32% versus 8%, p≪0.02) and CNF (38% versus 10%, p≪0.01), expression of P fimbriae (27% versus 5%, p≪0.02), MRHA types III, IVa and IVb (51% versus 8%, p≪0.001), and possession of a moderate cell surface hydrophobic charge (35% versus 13%, p≪0.05). Virulence factors were strongly associated with strains expressing defined MRHA types. Thus, all strains belonging to MRHA types III and IVa were toxigenic, whereas only 11% of strains belonging to MRHA types IVb, V or VI were toxigenic (p≪0.001). Virulence factors were concentrated in strains belonging to O serogroups usually found in E. coli that cause extra-intestinal infections, especially in strains of O4 and O6 groups. The most interesting result of this study was that all 12 P-fimbriate strains expressed the MRHA type IVa and 11 of them synthesised CNF.", }