Inability to express fimbriae results in impaired ability of Haemophilus influenzae b to colonize the nasopharynx. |
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| Authors: | A Weber K Harris S Lohrke L Forney A L Smith |
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| Affiliation: | Division of Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98105. |
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| Abstract: | We cloned into the structural fimbrial subunit gene from a fimbriated Haemophilus influenzae b a 1.5-kb kanamycin resistance gene. The resultant strain (RKAW5) was tested by Southern analysis, hemagglutination, and electron-micrographic examination to confirm gene inactivation. In comparison with the parent, RKAW5 exhibited a significant decrease in adherence to human buccal epithelial cells and in nasal colonization of yearling rhesus monkeys. |
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