Pili-mediated attachment of Corynebacterium renale to mucous membrane of urinary bladder of mice.

Corynebacterium renal strain 115 with numerous pili became attached in vivo to the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder of mice 10 to 30 times more frequently than did that of C renale American Type Culture Collection 19412, which showed few pili. Antipili serum-treated C renale strain 115 was not recovered from the membrane in as large amounts as was untreated bacteria. Antisomatic serum-treated strain 115, on the other hand, was recovered from the membrane in amounts similar to untreated bacteria. Untreated organisms became attached to the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder more effectively than did the antipili serum-treated bacteria, as seen on scanning electron micrographs. It may be concluded that C renale strain 115 attaches itself to the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder om mice by the pili.