Binding of the type 3 fimbriae of Klebsiella pneumoniae to human endothelial and urinary bladder cells.

Binding of the two identified type 3 fimbrial variants of Klebsiella pneumoniae to human endothelial EA-hy926 and bladder T24 cells was assessed. The recombinant Escherichia coli strain LE392(pFK12), expressing plasmid-encoded type 3 fimbriae of K. pneumoniae, adhered to both cell lines, and the fimbriae purified from the strain bound to both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Adhesiveness to both cell lines of chromosomally encoded type 3 fimbriae from K. pneumoniae IApc35 was lower. No binding was detected with type 1 fimbriae of K. pneumoniae. Both type 3 fimbrial variants exhibited a significantly lower affinity for the cell lines than did S fimbriae of meningitis-associated E. coli.