Cytoskeletal composition of attaching and effacing lesions associated with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adherence to HeLa cells.

The cytoskeletal lesions associated with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adhering to cultured HeLa epithelial cells were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. The microfilament-associated proteins actin, alpha-actinin, talin, and ezrin were localized with adherent enteropathogenic E. coli, whereas tropomyosin, keratin and vimentin (intermediate filaments), tubulin (microtubules), and vinculin were not localized. These cytoskeletal structures differed significantly from those associated with Salmonella typhimurium internalization (invasion).