Biomaterial Database

Multiple fimbrial haemagglutinins in Serratia species. 1983

D C Old, and R Adegbola, and S S Scott

Fifty-six strains from nine Serratia species, grown under a variety of cultural conditions, were examined in rocked-tile tests for the presence of haemagglutinins (HAs) and with the electron microscope for fimbriae. All strains were haemagglutinating; most (71%) formed two or three of the different kinds of HA detected. These were: (i) a mannose-sensitive HA (MS-HA); (ii) a mannose-resistant, klebsiella-like HA (MR/K-HA); (iii) two mannose-resistant, proteus-like HAs (MR/P-HA), one of which showed broad-spectrum HA activity against different species of erythrocytes and the other narrow-spectrum HA activity. Five types of fimbriae associated with the different HAs were observed. This description of the fimbrial HAs in nine species of Serratia is the most comprehensive so far produced and should provide a basis for future studies directed towards elucidating the ecological role of the adhesins in in-vivo colonization by serratiae as commensals or pathogens.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008358	Mannose	A hexose or fermentable monosaccharide and isomer of glucose from manna, the ash Fraxinus ornus and related plants. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed & Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	D-Mannose,Mannopyranose,Mannopyranoside,D Mannose
D010861	Fimbriae, Bacterial	Thin, hairlike appendages, 1 to 20 microns in length and often occurring in large numbers, present on the cells of gram-negative bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae and Neisseria. Unlike flagella, they do not possess motility, but being protein (pilin) in nature, they possess antigenic and hemagglutinating properties. They are of medical importance because some fimbriae mediate the attachment of bacteria to cells via adhesins (ADHESINS, BACTERIAL). Bacterial fimbriae refer to common pili, to be distinguished from the preferred use of "pili", which is confined to sex pili (PILI, SEX).	Bacterial Fimbriae,Bacterial Pili,Common Fimbriae,Common Pili,Pili, Bacterial,Pili, Common,Bacterial Fimbria,Bacterial Pilus,Common Fimbria,Common Pilus,Fimbria, Bacterial,Pilus, Bacterial,Fimbria, Common,Fimbriae, Common,Pilus, Common
D006384	Hemagglutination	The aggregation of ERYTHROCYTES by AGGLUTININS, including antibodies, lectins, and viral proteins (HEMAGGLUTINATION, VIRAL).	Hemagglutinations
D006388	Hemagglutinins	Agents that cause agglutination of red blood cells. They include antibodies, blood group antigens, lectins, autoimmune factors, bacterial, viral, or parasitic blood agglutinins, etc.	Isohemagglutinins,Exohemagglutinins,Hemagglutinin
D012705	Serratia	A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occurs in the natural environment (soil, water, and plant surfaces) or as an opportunistic human pathogen.
D012706	Serratia marcescens	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria found in soil, water, food, and clinical specimens. It is a prominent opportunistic pathogen for hospitalized patients.