Production of hemagglutinins and pili by Vibrio mimicus and its adherence to human and rabbit small intestines in vitro

Abstract

Clinical isolate of Vibrio mimicus were examined for production of cell-associated hemagglutinin (HA) and pili and for adherence to formalin-fixed human intestinal mucosa, V. mimicus grown on CFA agar for 3 h at 37°C possessed HA and adhered better to the mucus layer than to the epithelial cell surface. A significant correlation was found between the HA titers and adherence ability to the epithelial cell surface of villi (P < 0.05); adherence to the ileal lymphoid follicle associated epithelium occured at higher levels. In contrast, V. mimicus grown on CFA agar for 20 h at 37°C exhibited lower levels of HA and reduced adherence ability. The production of pili was more pronounced after 20 h of incubation than after 3 h of incubation. In comparison with V. cholerae 01 and V. cholerae non-01 cultured under similar conditions, V. mimicus showed inferior adherence, but with similar HA production or piliation.