ABSTRACT
This work describes the characterization of the F17 fimbriae, the analysis of the F17 fimbrial gene cluster and the identification of putative F17-specific adhesion blockers and vaccine components.
In 1979, the Escherichia coli strain 25KH9 was isolated from faeces of a diarrhoeal calf at the National Institute for Veterinary Research, Brussels (Pohl P. et al., 1982). This strain adhered in vitro to isolated intestinal calf villi. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of wiry flexible appendages or fimbriae on the surface of the bacteria. Serological analysis indicated that the strain 25KH9 produced no K99 (F5), K88 (F4), 987P (F6), nor F41 fimbrial antigens. The fimbriae were provisionally designated as ‘Att25’ (i.e. attachment of strain KH9). Fimbriae homologous to the Att25 fimbriae were also isolated in France at the same time; they were designated F(Y) (Girardeau et al., 1979). When the authors demonstrated that the Att25 and F(Y) fimbriae were identical, both antigens were designated ‘F17’ (see below).
