The Adherence of Escherichia coli to Uroepithelial Cells

Abstract

The adherence of E. coli 332 strains from various urinary tract infections (cystitis, pyelonephritis, etc., ) to human uroepithelial cells (UE-cells) was examined according to Harber's method.
UE-cells were obtained from freshly voided urine specimens from a woman who had no history of urinary or vaginal infections. These cells were resuspended with a phosphate buffered saline solution.E. coli strains cultured in brain-heart infusion broth (Difco), were added to the UE-cells suspension. Then the number of bacteria which adhered to each 30 UE-cell was counted to determine adhesive ability of E. coli. E. coli strains which markedly adhered to UE-cells were re-examined to better understand to the stability of UE-cells.
We also investigated the relation between the adherence of E. coli to UE-cells and the day of the menstrual cycle or the season in which UE-cells and the day of the menstrual cycle or the season in which UE-cells were obtained. Considerable variations were found between experiments done during different seasons. However no relation was observed between the adhesion capacity and the menstrual cycle.
These results suggest that UE-cells obtained from human urinary sediment should not be used to study the adhesive ability of various strains of E. coli because of the variations, that were found during different seasons.