Fimbrial hemagglutinins in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Eleven Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were isolated from urine specimens which were examined for their ability to produce hemagglutinins (HAs). Bacteria were grown under various culture conditions. Suspension of bacteria grown in broth or on Phosphate-buffered nutrient agar (PBA) were tested for agglutination in the presence and absence of 2% (w/v) D-mannose, on rockedtiles at 4 degrees C and ambient temperature with mangroup-O(M), fowl(F), ox(O), guinea-pig(G), horse (H), rabbit (R) and sheep (S) erythrocytes and tannic acid treated, but not fresh oxen erythrocytes. Each of the 11 strains was hemagglutinating. Ten strains (99%) producing two or three hemagglutinins (HAs), were multiple hemagglutinating. One strain produced only mannose-resistant, Klebsiella, the "Tanned ox hemagglutinin" (MR/K-HA). Solely mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MS/HA) was not produced by any of the strains. No mannose-sensitive hemagglutinating strains acted on sheep erythrocytes. Three main kinds of hemagglutinin (HA) were detected. These were: (a) a mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MS-HA); (b) a mannose resistant, Klebsiella, the "tanned ox hemagglutinin (MR/K-HA); (c) mannose-resistant, Proteus hemagglutinin (MR/P-HA). All strains (100%) produced MR/K-HA, 45% of MR/K-HA+ strains produced MR/P-HA at 37 degrees C and 99% of all strains produced MS/HA, MR/P-HA activity was never dependent on MR/K-HA: Electronmicroscopic examination of bacteria showed that all strains were fimbriate.