Mutations in cloned Escherichia coli P fimbriae genes that makes fimbriae-production resistant to suppression by trimethoprim.

The effect of sublethal concentrations of trimethoprim on the expression of P fimbriae was tested in Escherichia coli HB101 recombinant strains. Fimbriation was inhibited at trimethoprim concentrations down to at least 1/64 of the minimal inhibitory concentration. However, the expression of the P fimbrillin by recombinant plasmids containing deletions in front of the fimbrillin gene did not respond to the inhibitory effect of trimethoprim indicating that trimethoprim may act at the level of gene regulation.