ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses evolution of the Escherichia coli-type fimbriae. De Ree et al studied the serologic response of patients with pyelonephritis to P fimbriae. Sera from these patients contained antibodies directed against the P-fimbrial subunit proteins, but not to the minor subunits. P fimbriae have not only been found on E. coli, but also on Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens strains isolated from urinary tract infections (UTI). The phylogenetic trees reveal a close relationship between the chaperone proteins from B. pertussis, H. influenzae, and K. pneumoniae, all three of which are pathogens of the respiratory tract. Indications were also obtained that horizontal gene transfer events have occurred between quite unrelated E. coli strains. The DNA sequence of the E, F, and G genes of both P-fimbrial operons of strains J96 is completely conserved in the E genes and the F genes contain six base substitutions, three of which yield silent mutations.
